Norwegian state-owned energy giant Equinor has struck gas in the North Sea, near an existing field, that could deliver up to 10.3 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) using existing infrastructure on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).
Equinor and its partners have discovered gas at the Gullfaks South field, 190 kilometers northwest of Bergen. The exploration well, formally named 34/10-D-4 BH, was drilled as a sidetrack in connection with the drilling of a production well.
The Askeladden rig has drilled the well within the production license for Gullfaks, so it has the same owners, which are Equinor, Petoro, and OMV.
Based on the operator’s data, between 0.5 million and 1.6 million standard cubic meters of recoverable oil equivalents have been discovered, corresponding to 3.3 to 10.3 million barrels of oil equivalent.
Gunnar Egge, Equinor’s Vice President for the Gullfaks Field, commented: “It is very positive that it is possible to make discoveries of this size with such cost-effective exploration wells.
“These will be profitable barrels that can help maintain activity and production on the Gullfaks field.”
This discovery comes over a month after Equinor, Aker BP, and Vår Energi teamed up to look for the next major hydrocarbon discoveries on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, targeting up to 25 high-impact exploration prospects over the next few years.