Equinor has announced a significant oil and gas discovery in the North Sea, estimated to contain between 13 and 28 million barrels of oil equivalent. The find was made through an exploration well with a sidetrack, drilled approximately 10 kilometers north of the prolific Troll field. Petroleum was encountered in both trajectories, with the composition of the discovery slightly favoring gas over oil. The well was drilled by Odfjell Drilling’s Deepsea Atlantic semi-submersible rig.
The discovery occurred at the Rhombi prospect under license 090, where Equinor acts as the operator with a 45% stake. Partner companies Vår Energi and INPEX Idemitsu Norge hold 40% and 15% interests, respectively. The partners are now assessing potential tie-ins to existing oil and gas infrastructure in the area to maximize resource utilization. Geir Sørtveit, Equinor’s senior vice president for Exploration & Production West in Norway, highlighted the significance of the find, noting the region’s well-established infrastructure and the company’s track record of multiple discoveries there in recent years. He underscored Equinor’s commitment to resource-efficient, profitable, and low-emission project developments.
This discovery marks the first in the area for 2024, building on the momentum of 12 discoveries made in the region between 2018 and 2023. Equinor continues to prioritize exploration within this core area, leveraging existing infrastructure for potential swift integration and commercialization.
