Stephen

The influence of preexisting deep-seated structures on sedimentary processes and facies distribution, …and its application in hydrocarbon exploration on the NCS.

January 31, 2026.   The influence of preexisting or underlying structural features or framework on the development of sedimentary processes, depositional pathways, and facies distribution is well known and documented in various research articles / literatures.   It is an important concept for hydrocarbon exploration and forms a piece of work that must be established […]

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Blog, Exploration Insights

NCS Exploration Drilling Updates – January 2026

January 30, 2026.   NCS Exploration Drilling Updates – Jan. 30, 2026. Currently, a total of five (5) exploration wells are being drilled on the NCS👏. Details..⤵️   ➡️ Active Wells –   – Well 35/11-32 S: Wildcat well by Equinor in the Northern North Sea – Lomre Terrace area (PL 090 HS). Spud date

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Blog, Exploration Drilling, Exploration Updates

NCS Exploration Drilling Updates – November 2025

**Updated on Nov. 28  –  NCS Exploration Drilling Updates – Nov. 27, 2025👏 Since my last update, 3 new wells have started drilling and 5 wells have concluded drilling👏 Currently, a total of five (5) exploration wells are being drilled on the NCS👏. Details..⤵️   – Well 6507/8-12 S: Wildcat well by Equinor in the

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Blog, Exploration Drilling, Exploration Updates

NCS Exploration Drilling Updates – October 2025

**Updated on October 29, 2025 –  NCS Exploration Drilling Updates – Oct. 27, 2025👏 Since my last update, 4 new wells have started drilling and 3 wells have concluded drilling. Currently, a total of seven (7) exploration wells are being drilled on the NCS👏. Details..⤵️   ➡️ Active Wells –   – Well 7122/7-8: Wildcat

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Blog, Exploration Drilling, Exploration Updates

Central Graben Prospectivity: Shallow Target Play Opportunities on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).

➡️ Plays: The Cretaceous, Paleocene, and Eocene plays within the Central Graben area of the Norwegian North Sea are underexplored and hold significant Yet-To-Find (YTF) resources. That is one of the reasons why I included them as one of my recommended plays for APA 2025. Recently, I have identified various play opportunities, highgraded areas, and

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Blog, Exploration Insights

NCS Exploration Drilling Updates – September 2025

Sept. 24, 2025. (**Updated) – NCS Exploration Drilling Updates – Sept. 24, 2025👏 Currently, five (5) exploration wells are being drilled on the NCS👏. Details..⤵️   – Well 30/11-16 S: Wildcat well by AkerBP in the North Sea (PL 873). Initial spud date- 30 April by Deepsea Stavanger rig. Prospect name – “Natrudstilen”. Targets –

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Norway’s 26th Licensing Round – Invitation for Block Nomination

➡️ Norway’s 26th Licensing Round is now underway!👏🎉 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has just announced the invitation for block nominations👏, including the requirements and processes. Deadline is October 1, 2025. 👏   ➡️ As noted by the Norwegian Offshore Directorate, – “The numbered licensing rounds encompass the opened, immature parts of the Norwegian continental shelf,

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Blog, Exploration Updates

APA 2025 Licensing Round – Applications Received from 20 Companies…as Interest in NCS Exploration remains high!

APA2025 Licensing Round – The deadline for submission of applications has just passed, and applications have been received from 20 companies!👏 Interest in exploration on the Norwegian Continental Shelf remains high!👏.   ➡️Great to see that most of the companies that are active on the #NCS have participated and submitted applications👏 ..indicating the willingness by

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Blog, Exploration Updates

Smørbukk Midt Discovery Well in the Norwegian Sea

New oil and gas condensate discovery by Equinor ASA and partners in the Halten Terrace area of the Norwegian Sea Basin (PL094)👏. The wildcat well (Smørbukk Midt prospect) successfully proved hydrocarbon accumulations in reservoirs belonging to the Garn Formation and Ile Formation (Fangst Group)👏. The encountered pay zones are – 54 meters of condensate/light oil

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Blog, Exploration Drilling

Few comments on the new Omega Merge OBN dataset by Viridien, TGS and Axxis Multi Client AS

It’s great to have the new Omega Merge OBN dataset in the North Sea area of the NCS.🎉👏   ➡️ Of course, having a single, merged dataset is important and vital for conducting regional assessment versus postage stamp exploration work👏… and it’s good to see that, – pre-migration matching was done to ensure consistency in

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Blog, Exploration Insights