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)