Operators across the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) are advancing a mix of production, exploration and portfolio initiatives, from preserving Troll gas export capacity and progressing a new North Sea discovery to acquisitions and licensing activity aimed at expanding future resource opportunities.

Troll partners revise compressor plans to protect gas exports

Between now and 2035, Equinor plans to drill 200 near-field Norwegian exploration wells and enact around 75 new subsea developments.

“To bring these discoveries on stream, we must radically change how we plan and develop subsea projects," said Gunnar Nakken, SVP for projects and subsea on the NCS. “Our aim is to halve both costs and the time from discovery to production through simpler and faster processes, more standardisation, repeatable solutions and more extensive use of industry standards. We expect the partnership to make an investment decision for Grimsnes as early as next summer, with production within three years.”

The most likely solution is a development featuring two or three wells in a standard four-slot template. Equinor plans to start procurement of subsea production equipment early in 2027, long before the project is sanctioned.

Since the equipment will be standardised, it can be redeployed elsewhere if the project is not approved either by the partners or the authorities.

DNO strengthens North Sea hub position through Sval transaction

In other developments offshore Norway, DNO reported in its latest quarterly update has completed a multi-asset North Sea transaction with Vår Energi under which it gains a 5% interest in the Gjøa field and Gjøa Nord discovery, trading interests in the Nova and Ringhorne Nord fields.

The company said it had now secured a strategic ownership in the offshore Gjøa hub, which Vår Energi operates.

DNO also revealed that a pilot well at the Aker BP-operated Symra Field (DNO 20%), drilled to appraise previous discoveries in the Heimdal Formation, had raised estimated recoverable volumes at Symra by up to 25%. Symra has been developed via a subsea tieback to the Ivar Aasen platform.

Kistos secures additional Norwegian exploration licenses

Finally, Kistos has signed a Sales and Purchase Agreement with Vår Energi to acquire a 10% interest in the PL 169E, PL 956 and PL 956B for $12.9 million.

Assuming approval from Norway’s Energy Ministry, this would give Kistos a uniform working interest across the Balder-Ringhorne fields, the Ringhorne East Unit, and the part of the Ringhorne Nord Field within PL 956 and PL 956B, in line with its existing 10% stake in PL 027.

Aligning the interests of Vår and Kistos across the Balder Area, the company added, should lead to more efficient field development and reduced operating costs.