The Norwegian Offshore Directorate (NOD) has selected OKEA as the recipient of the 2026 Improved Recovery Award at ONS, recognizing the operator's use of advanced geosteering, real-time data integration and near-field exploration to extend the productive life of the Draugen and Brage fields to 2040.

OKEA assumed operatorship of Draugen from original developer Norske Shell in 2018, and of Brage from Wintershall Dea in 2022. 

The “Improved Recovery Award," first issued in 1998 and staged at ONS since 2012, recognizes creativity in the choice of methods and technology that can improve oil and gas recovery on the Norwegian Continental Shelf beyond the targets in the original development plans and available techniques at the time.

For this year’s award, the jury highlighted OKEA’s use of geosteering technology and real-time data integration to achieve record-length horizontal wells, and a drilling strategy that improved knowledge of the subsurface, leading to significant discoveries.

“This has made marginal resources profitable and led to their production,” the jury added. “Systematic exploration close to existing fields has also resulted in increased reserves and resources. Both Brage and Draugen's estimated lifetimes have been extended to 2040 as a result of these efforts."

Brage was discovered in 1980 and brought onstream in 1993. Draugen, proven in 1984, delivered first oil in 1993. Here, the anticipated recovery rate has risen from 67.3% in 2019 to 72.6% currently.

The jury assessed a total of 17 candidates nominated for the award, which will be presented at ONS tomorrow by Torgeir Stordal, Director General of the NOD.

OKEA is exhibiting at booth 7030 and Norwegian Offshore Directorate is at booth 8100 at the Offshore Northern Seas (ONS) event this week in Stavanger, Norway.