Sokkeldirektoratet

Gas discovery in the Barents Sea (7122/9-2)

cosl-prospector

The well was drilled by the Cosl Prospector rig. (Photo: Cosl)

1/17/2025 Vår Energi ASA and its partners found gas in the “Elgol” prospect; however, preliminary estimates indicate that the discovery is not profitable given current price assumptions.

Exploration well 7122/9-2 is the first in production licence 1131, which was awarded in 2021 (Awards in predefined areas 2020). “Elgol” is included in Vår’s ongoing exploration campaign in the Barents Sea, and exploration activity will continue throughout this year and in 2026. The next well is 7122/8-3 S “Zagato”.

Preliminary estimates indicate the size of the discovery is between 0.4 - 3 million standard cubic metres of oil equivalent, which corresponds to 2.6-19 million barrels of oil equivalent.

The well was drilled by the Cosl Prospector rig.

Geological information

The objective of the well was to prove petroleum in Upper Permian reservoir rocks in the Ørret Formation.

Well 7122/9-2 encountered a 1.5-metre gas column in a sandstone reservoir in the Ørret Formation, where reservoir properties were moderate. The remainder of the reservoir in the Ørret Formation totalled 28 metres with variable, generally poor reservoir quality. The gas/water contact was not encountered.

The well was not formation-tested, but data acquisition and sampling have been carried out.

The well was drilled to a vertical depth of 1844 metres below sea level, and was terminated in the Ørret Formation in the Upper Permian.

Water depth at the site is 415 metres. The well has been permanently plugged and abandoned.

Map showing the location of well 7122/9-2.

 

Contact
Bjørn Rasen

Tel: +47 51 87 60 00

Updated: 1/17/2025

Latest news

Full house to hear about new technology on the NCS
6/6/2025 "Technology is one of the tools that can help generate additional values from the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS). At Technology Day new technology from different suppliers are presented."
New interactive map of deep sea data
6/5/2025 Today, the Norwegian Offshore Directorate is launching an interactive map, Deep Sea Surveys.
New Director of Offshore development and technology
6/5/2025 Producing the resources on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) so they generate the greatest possible values for society is an important driving force for the Norwegian Offshore Directorate's new director.
Proved suitable properties for CO2 injection and storage (9/6-1)
6/2/2025 A wildcat well drilled by Harbour Energy Norge and licensees in the “Havstjerne” storage project confirmed a reservoir that is suitable for injection and storage of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Oil discovery and dry well in the North Sea (31/4-A-23 F and 31/4-A-23 G)
5/28/2025 OKEA and the licensees in production licence 055 have discovered oil along the eastern flank of the Brage field.
Drilling permit for wellbore 35/11-31 S
5/23/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor Energy AS drilling permit for wellbore 35/11-31 S in production licence 090.
Drilling permit for wellbore 15/5-8 S and 15/5-8 A
5/22/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor Energy AS drilling permit for wellbore 15/5-8 S and 15/5-8 A in production licence 1140.
Production figures April 2025
5/20/2025 Preliminary production figures for April 2025 show an average daily production of 2 030 000 barrels of oil, NGL and condensate.
Oil discovery in the Norwegian Sea (6507/5-13 S and 6507/5-13 A)
5/20/2025 Aker BP ASA and its partners have made an oil discovery in the so-called E prospect near the Skarv field.
Drilling permit for wellbore 6406/11-2 S
5/19/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Vår Energi ASA drilling permit for wellbore 6406/11-2 S in production licence 586.