Updated July 30, 2026.
NCS Exploration Drilling Updates – July 30, 2026👏 Since my last update, 2 new wells (1 wildcat, 1 appraisal) have started drilling operations. Currently, 3 exploration wells are being drilled on the NCS👏. Details..⤵️
➡️ Active Wells:
– Well 15/6-17: Wildcat well by AkerBP in the Gundrun Terrace area of the North Sea (PL 979). Spud date – July 7 by Scarabeo 8 rig. Prospect name – “Svarteknippa”. Likely targets – Middle Jurassic Hugin FM and Sleipner FM reservoirs – likely deposited in Fluvial to Shallow Marine settings. Trap – Structural. Partner – Equinor.👏
– Well 35/7-2: Appraisal well for Afrodite discovery well by Wellesley Petroleum in the Northern North Sea (PL 293). Spud date – July 15 by Deepsea Yantai rig. Targets – Middle Jurassic Brent Group reservoirs. Trap – Horst block. Partner – Equinor.👏
– Well 25/7-13: Ongoing wildcat well by Equinor in the South Viking Graben area of the North Sea (PL 782 S). Spud date – May 4 by COSL Innovator rig. Prospect name – “Linga”. Likely targets – Upper Jurassic (Intra-Draupne) reservoirs. Partner – AkerBP.👏
➡️ Drilling Results:
– Well 7220/5-EC-2 H: Equinor and partners have concluded drilling operations for Skrugard North Tubåen prospect resulting in an oil discovery in the Johan Castberg area of the Barents Sea (PL 532). The wildcat well found pay in Tubåen reservoirs… a 30 meter oil column in a 41 meter total reservoir thickness with good to very good quality. Estimated volume is 7.6 to 10.5 million barrels o.e. 👏 Read more here 👉 – Skrugard North Tubåen.
➡️ Highlights / Comments:
– Skrugard-North Tubåen Oil Discovery: Highlighted in the May edition of the NCS Exploration Drilling Updates, the wildcat well has proven to be yet another discovery well for Equinor in the Bjørnøyrenna Fault Complex area of the Barents Sea. Correctly predicted by the YTF Exploration’s Well Prediction Toolbox (WPT), the oil discovery makes it a “back-to-back” success by Equinor in the prolific Lower Jurassic Tubåen play.👏. Note: 7 WPT predictions made this year – (6 correct – 4 discoveries, 2 dry holes; 1 wrong).
👉 Contact me to learn more about the WPT toolbox and how it can be applied in your prospect evaluation process to help reduce risk.👏 Read more
– Permitted and Upcoming: The updated list of permitted and upcoming wildcats in the second half of 2026 continues to grow and now includes – “Sava North” prospect by Vår Energi, “Anabelle” prospect by Vår Energi, “Lakris” prospect by Vår Energi, “Jotun Deep” prospect by Vår Energi, and “Grimsnes” prospect by Equinor, and “Alpehumle” prospect by AkerBP (currently suspended).👏
– Seismic Surveys: See attached map for planned and ongoing seismic survey activities in the North Sea.
➡️ As always, contact me for more details on any of the above – recommended plays and play areas, prospect critical work / prospect reviews, identified lead opportunities, potential farm-in candidates, and well predictions on upcoming wildcats –
👉Email – consulting@ytfexploration.com.
👉Website – https://ytfexploration.com.
Maps
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Fig. 2 (Link). Fig. 3 (Link). Fig. 4 (Link)
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Fig. 5 (Link) Fig. 6 (Link). Fig. 7 (Link)
Tags: NCS, Exploration, North Sea, ILX Exploration,
Featured Image: Transocean Enabler Rig (Source – Transocean)
