Offshore staff
OSLO, Norway — Eighteen exploration wells drilled in the year to date in Norwegian waters have led to seven discoveries, according to the latest update from the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD).
The NPD expects just under 40 exploration and appraisal wells to be drilled on the shelf in 2023.
“Most of the wells are being drilled near infrastructure, which could yield valuable additional resources for existing fields,” said director general Torgeir Stordal. “At the same time, it’s important that the companies also drill wells in less-explored areas.”
So far in 2023, there have been production starts at the Bauge and Fenja fields and a restart at Hyme, all connected to the Njord Future redevelopment program in the Norwegian Sea.
Gas production across the Norwegian sector totaled 50.5 Bcm in the first five months of the year, with output down in May due to maintenance shutdowns.
Over the same period, Norwegian fields produced 270 MMbbl of oil, slightly up on the corresponding period for 2022, mainly due to the boost provided by Johan Sverdrup Phase 2 in the North Sea, which came onstream toward the end of last year.
Last week the authorities approved 19 oil and gas projects on the shelf with combined investments of more than NOK200 billion ($18.81 billion). These projects include new developments, further developments of existing fields and projects designed to improve recovery from existing fields.
“Production of oil and gas on the Norwegian shelf will decline naturally after 2025,” Stordal said, “but these projects will help curb the fall. At the same time, the projects provide a foundation for high activity in the Norwegian supplier industry and fortify the position of the Norwegian shelf as a stable oil and gas supplier for many years to come.”
07.05.2023
