The operator, Wintershall, and partners Petoro and Centrica on May 5 sumbitted the plan for development and operations of the Maria field to the minister of oil and energy, Tord Lien. The 15.3 billion NOK field will start producing in 2018. Petoro tok over a 30 per cent share in 2011 and has in the planning phase been keen to see an efficient use of existing infrastructure as part of the Mariadevelopment in this part of the Norwegian Sea.