An oil platform dramatically goes down on the Norwegian coast, and researchers try to find out what happened when they realize this is just the start of something even more serious.
In 1969, the Norwegian government announces their discovery of one of the world's largest oil fields in the neighboring North Sea, launching a prosperous period of offshore drilling. 50 years later, the environmental consequences begin to manifest - a crack has opened on the ocean floor, causing a rig to collapse. A team of researchers, including submarine operator Sofia, rushes in to search for the missing and assess the cause of the damage, but what they discover is that this is just the start of a possible apocalyptic catastrophe. As rigs are evacuated, Sofia's loving companion Stian becomes trapped in the depths of the sea, and Sofia must dive in to rescue him. THE BURNING SEA is the latest disaster epic from the team behind Skjelvet (2018) and Bølgen (2015).
On Christmas Eve 1969, the Norwegian government announces something that will change Norway forever: One of the world's largest offshore oil discoveries is a fact, and Ekofisk becomes the start of an unprecedented financial adventure. 50 years of experience has given us many answers, but we might have yet to fully understand the consequences of our operations at sea. Will the adventure last or have we created one of the largest mass destruction weapons in the world?
In 1969, the Norwegian government announces their discovery of one of the world's largest oil fields in the neighboring North Sea, launching a prosperous period of offshore drilling. The rigs were set up by the Americans and the Norwegians had little or no training to operate them.
50 years later, the environmental consequences begin to manifest - a crack has opened on the ocean floor, causing a rig to collapse.
A team of researchers, including submarine operator Sofia (Kristine Kujath Thorp), rushes in to search for the missing and assess the cause of the damage, but what they discover is that this is just the start of a possible apocalyptic catastrophe. William Lie (Bjørn Floberg) is the emergency manager. Arthur (Rolf Kristian Larsen) is Sofia's colleague. Berit (Ane Skumsvoll) is the director of safety operations for the companyThe team works from the ship called Normand Maximus. With the ship, the team reaches Ormen Lange rig, which is under development. William tells Sofia that minor ocean subsidence directly underneath the rig base caused the collapse.
Sofia's mission is to use her robots to find if the rig that went down still has survivors in air pockets inside the rig. Sofia finds a man trapped in an air pocket, but he dies to due release of natural gas from an unknown source. Sofia correctly deduces that the underwater rig is leaking gas and warns the ship captain to move back. But it's too late, as the gas escapes to the surface, and ignites creating a huge explosion.Sofia is injured in the blast and is sent back to base. Sofia lives with her companion Stian (Henrik Bjelland), who works at another oil rig and flies out for his shift. Stian has a son named Odin (Nils Elias Olsen).
Meanwhile Arthur studies the footage from the recovered robot submarine and deduces that the gas leak didn't come from the rig, but from the ocean floor. She concludes that this cannot be a mere subsidence. William knows this but dismisses Sofia's concerns.
William makes a presentation to the Oil minister Steiner Skagemo (Christoffer Staib). He concludes that the recent events are a continuation of a 8000 yr old geological phenomenon when a ocean shelf broke and shift 5000 cubic Kms of mud and other materials under the ocean. the shelf is right next to where the North Sea platforms are. And the direction of the recent events indicates a fracture running underneath the rigs. he also speculates that human drilling activities weakened the area next to the shelf and created this disaster.William recommends shutting down all wells and evacuate everyone till they know more. Not shutting the wells could cause an oil spill. Deepwater horizon was the size of Denmark from one well, and in the North Sea there are 350 wells.
As rigs are evacuated, one of the oil wells (Gullfaks) shows an error when it is closed. Stian and his team is sent to close it down manually. Stain goes down the shaft to implement the shutdown procedure. Stian is 138 meters under sea level. at that moment the shelf collapses and the fault line travels through the North sea, destroying 30 rigs. Stian is trapped underwater as his rig partially collapses within seconds.When Sofia finds out she begs William to send a rescue mission for Stian, but he refuses, since the shelf is still shifting and chances of Stian's survival are slim. Berit says that sensors indicate movement at the bottom of the rig, and that could mean Stian is still alive.
Sofia calls in a favor and flies in a helicopter to the partially standing rig with a submersible. Arthur goes with Sofia. Together, they reach the damaged rig and launch their robot. Using a thermal camera Sofia inspects the pipes between the rig pillars and finds a warm body nestled right where she expected it.
Meanwhile the fracture of the ocean floor and ripped the oil pipelines and the oil inside them has leaked. The spill is over 100,000 sq Kms. Everything natural along the entire west coast of Norway will be destroyed and the damage will take decades to repair. Denmark, Britain and other EU countries will also be impacted. William suggests setting the oil on fire while it is still concentrated.
Sofia travels down the intact pillar and rescues Stian, who is still alive. Skagemo speaks to the Prime Minister and orders to set the spill on fire. The Gullfalks rig is right in the middle of the spill. Berit informs William that Sofia went out by herself to Gullfaks to rescue Stian. When Stian calls for a rescue, William tells him that the spill has been bombed and the flames will reach them within 5 mins.
Sofia fills a lifeboat with water and plans to ride under the water, so survive the surface flames. The trio enter the lifeboat but can't launch as one of the latches is stuck outside the lifeboat. Arthur sacrifices his life to release the latch and allows the lifeboat to launch before the flames hit the rig. Without ballast, the lifeboat sinks to the bottom.
Stian guides Sofia, who finds the power supply of the lifeboat and activates the ballast, and the boat rises to the surface. Stian and Sofia drive the boat to the coast. They are reunited with Odin who was under Berit's care. It took an yr for the smoke to clear.
