Covering 5 000 square metres, the museum stands in the heart of Stavanger and incorporates exhibition space, cinema, restaurant, library, meeting rooms, workshops and offices. Its running costs are met by a combination of own income, government grants and sponsor contributions.
Original objects, models, films and interactive exhibits convey the history of oil operations on the Norwegian continental shelf.
The museum also provides insights into technological developments in the petroleum sector, and the way this industry has affected Norwegian society.