Norway 's crude oil output rose 6.4% on the year in July, and was the highest since May 2012, as several fields performed well, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate said Wednesday.

Norway 's crude oil output was 1.576 million barrels a day in July, 8% above the directorate's forecast. So far in 2013, crude oil output was 9% lower than a year ago, and slightly below the directorate's estimate.

Oil output in Norway has been on a declining trend for more than a decade. Total oil and gas output rose slightly in 2012, as higher gas production offset a huge drop in oil output, but total output was still 15% below the country's 2004 peak.

Norway 's natural gas output in July was about in line with last year's production at 9.2 billion cubic meters.

Production in July was reduced on the Statoil ASA-operated Oseberg, Vigdis and Skuld fields and the BP PLC-operated Skarv, Ula and Valhall fields due to technical problems, the directorate said, but this was offset by good performance on other fields.

The directorate has projected Norway 's oil and gas production to fall 5% in 2013, but to rebound next year and remain around the 2012 level until 2017.

Fueled by high prices, oil companies operating in Norway expect record-high investments in 2013. Most of the investments are required to maintain and boost production in existing fields such as Ekofisk and Troll, but new fields are also being developed, such as Edvard Grieg, Ivar Aasen and Martin Linge.
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