	compromise seen likely over conoco statoil dispute norway is expected to seek a compromise solution to defuse a row between den norske stats oljeselskap a s stat ol statoil and conoco norge a s over which firm will operate the heidrun oil field government sources said the sources who asked not to be named said the government will likely recommend that conoco be allowed to continue as the field s operator through the development phase with statoil taking over only after production starts in the early s oil minister arne oeien told reuters the government had today discused the heidrun matter but that no final decision had been taken and several questions remained unresolved it was unlikely the government would announce its decision on heidrun operatorship until after thursday s cabinet meeting and after discussing a proposed solution with both companies the sources added this spring norway s state owned oil company statoil exercised an option in the heidrun field exploration license that if approved by the government would allow it to relieve conoco as heidrun operator a move sharply criticised by conoco heidrun is often cited by the government and industry as the most likely candidate for the first field development project on the haltenbanken exploration tract off central norway reuter 
