The workshop will focus on the subsurface and drilling challenges that are new and specific to the North from both a cost effective and standardization perspective in the Arctic Region. Harstad, the oil industry capital in northern Norway, is located north of the Lofoten islands surrounded by mountains and sea. Several oil and service companies are settled in Harstad, representing the full value chain from exploration, field development to operations. Statoil is the major operator. However, companies like Det norske, Total and Lundin are also present. In addition, the Norwegian authorities are represented by a branch of the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate.