Join us for an exploration seminar

SODIR_PETROLEUM_2-1920x1080px.png

16/07/2024 We look forward to welcoming you to a seminar on the topic of exploration in the Barents Sea, to be held on 23-24 October 2024 at our offices in Stavanger. The seminar will include presentations by the Ministry of Energy, the Norwegian Offshore Directorate, licensees and suppliers.

The objective of the event is to highlight challenges and opportunities associated with exploration in the Barents Sea and to stimulate increased exploration activity in the area. 

The primary target group for the seminar consists of employees in the resource authorities, licensees and suppliers on the Norwegian continental shelf.

"There are significant opportunities to prove more resources in the Barents Sea. Large parts of this sea area is still fairly frontier acreage, which means that companies may have opportunities to find valuable barrels,” says Arne Jacobsen, Assistant director, subsurface and technology.

Challenging exploration

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate’s analyses indicate substantial remaining resources in the Barents Sea, but exploration in the Barents Sea is challenging. The geological history with considerable erosion and uplift of extensive areas has resulted in leakage from a number of structures that were previously filled with hydrocarbons.

This fact has led to many disappointments in the more than 40-year exploration history in the Barents Sea. Despite this, several discoveries have been made of commercial volumes that are currently being produced, and there are definitely chances of finding more.

More information and registration for the seminar

Presentations from the seminar

Hydrocarbon seeps, new mud volcanos and the search for a new young source rock in the westernmost Barents Sea (pdf)

Unlocking the gas resources in the Barents Sea (pdf)

Remaining undiscovered resources in the Barents Sea (pdf)

Updated: 31/01/2025

Latest news

Dry well in the Norwegian Sea (6507/2-8)
27/03/2025 Aker BP ASA and its partners have completed drilling on the “Kongeørn” prospect in the Norwegian Sea, 240 kilometres west of Sandnessjøen.
Drilling permit for wellbore 25/11-30 S
27/03/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor Energy AS drilling permit for wellbore 25/11-30 S in production licence 169, cf. Section 13 of the Resource Management Regulations.
Dry well in the North Sea (35/6-6)
26/03/2025 OMV and its partners have drilled a dry well on the “Horatio” prospect in the North Sea.
Production figures Febuary 2025
20/03/2025 Preliminary production figures for February 2025 show an average daily production of 1 938 000 barrels of oil, NGL and condensate.
Drilling permit for wellbore 9/6-1
18/03/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Harbour Energy Norge AS drilling permit for wellbore 9/6-1 in production licence EXL006, cf. Section 13 of the Resource Management Regulations.
Drilling permit for wellbore 6405/7-4
17/03/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Aker BP ASA drilling permit for wellbore 6405/7-4 in production licence 1005, cf. Section 13 of the Resource Management Regulations.
Drilling permit for the wells 34/6-8 S and 34/6-8 A
11/03/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor Energy AS drilling permit for the wells 34/6-8 S and 34/6-8 A in production licence 554, cf. Section 13 of the Resource Management Regulations.
Announcement of acreage for CO2 storage on the Norwegian Continental Shelf
05/03/2025 On 5th of March 2025, the Ministry of Energy announced one area for CO2 storage pursuant to the CO2 Storage Regulations. This area comprises defined blocks in the North Sea.
Gas/condensate discovery in the Norwegian Sea (6406/6-7 S)
05/03/2025 Equinor and its partners have proven gas/condensate in the “Mistral Sør” prospect.
Dry well in the North Sea (7/1-4 S)
04/03/2025 Vår Energi and its partners have drilled a dry well on the “Kokopelli” prospect, south of the Sleipner area.