DNO Norge, a Norwegian petroleum company, has recently struck a substantial gas and condensate reserve in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. This breakthrough, known as the Norma prospect, is more than just a notable find; it's being hailed as a "play-opener" for the region, dramatically lowering the risk associated with future exploration activities in the area.

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) had issued DNO a drilling permit for well 25/7-11 S, the Norma prospect, back in April 2023. This well, located in the North Sea, sought to uncover petroleum in Upper Jurassic reservoir rocks in the Draupne Formation. And uncover it did.

DNO Norge made an impressive gas and condensate discovery, characterized by a 16-meter gas/condensate column within the Draupne Formation. Notably, 13 meters of this column constituted a net reservoir within sandstone layers measuring a total of 19 meters. These sandstone layers boasted moderate to good reservoir quality, adding to the significance of the find. While the well wasn't formation-tested, extensive data acquisition and sampling were conducted.

What makes this discovery even more intriguing is the estimated range of recoverable resources. On a P90-P10 basis, this range spans from 25 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe) to an impressive 130 mmboe, with a mean estimate of 70 mmboe. These estimates reflect the vast potential of the Norma prospect.

The location of this breakthrough is approximately 20 kilometers north of the Balder field in the central part of the North Sea and 215 kilometers west of Stavanger. The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) considers the results from this well as "important" for future exploration and development in the area.

DNO Norge is the operator of the license, holding a 30% ownership interest. Partnering in this endeavor are Vår Energi (30%), Source Energy (20%), and Equinor (20%). This discovery marks a significant milestone and is poised to shape the future of exploration and production activities in the Norwegian North Sea.