Equinor, the Norwegian state-owned energy company, has announced a significant oil and gas discovery in the North Sea, enriching the hydrocarbon reserves of one of the Norwegian continental shelf's (NCS) leading oil producers, the Oseberg field. With a drilling permit issued earlier in 2023, Equinor and its partners successfully identified promising reserves in the Lambda prospect, bolstering the region's oil and gas portfolio.

The exploration well 30/6-C-2 A, operated by Equinor with a 49.3% ownership interest, encountered approximately 23 meters of oil and gas-filled sandstone with favorable reservoir quality in the Eiriksson Formation within the Statfjord Group. Additionally, the well discovered about 15 meters of oil and gas-filled sandstone with moderate to good reservoir quality in the Cook Formation, highlighting the presence of valuable resources in the region.

Preliminary estimates suggest that the discoveries in the Eiriksson Formation range between 0.2 and 0.4 million standard cubic meters of recoverable oil equivalent, while the discoveries in the Cook Formation vary from 0.2 to 1.0 million standard cubic meters of recoverable oil equivalent. The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has emphasized the significance of these discoveries as crucial additional resources for the Oseberg field, further reinforcing Equinor's commitment to exploring production solutions for the newly identified reserves.

The successful drilling was carried out at a depth of 2,795 meters below sea level, with data collection conducted despite the absence of formation testing. Situated in a water depth of 109 meters, the well was drilled from the Oseberg C integrated platform, a key component of the Oseberg Field Centre, which has been integral to the region's oil production since its establishment in 1988.

Equinor and its partners, including Petoro, TotalEnergies EP Norge, and ConocoPhillips Skandinavia, are expected to further investigate the discovery and assess the potential for production solutions, highlighting the continued investment in the region's energy resources. As one of the most significant developments in the Norwegian oil sector, the new discovery marks a notable milestone in Equinor's ongoing efforts to bolster the country's oil and gas reserves in the North Sea.