October 30, 2026.
NCS Exploration Drilling Updates – October 30, 2026👏 Since my last update – 2 wells (1 wildcat, 1 appraisal) started drilling operations, and 4 wells (2 wildcats, 2 appraisal) concluded drilling operations. Currently, 2 exploration wells are being drilled on the NCS👏. Details..⤵️
➡️ Active Wells:
– Well 25/8-24 S: Wildcat well by Vår Energi in the North Sea (PL 1203). Spud date – Oct 4 by COSL Pioneer rig. Prospect name – Jotun Deep. Likely targets: Upper Triassic to Middle Jurassic (Lower Jurassic Statfjord FM, Middle Jurassic Vestland Group). Partners – Equinor, DNO, Petoro.
– Well 34/10-56 S: Ongoing wildcat well by Equinor in the Northern North Sea – Gullfaks field area (PL 050 HS). Spud date – Aug 25 by COSL Innovator rig. Prospect – Rav Beta. Likely targets: Jurassic (Brent Group / Cook FM) reservoirs. Partner – Petoro AS.
➡️ Drilling Results:
– Well 35/7-2: Equinor has completed a successful appraisal for Afrodite discovery in the North Sea (PL 293), with the new results doubling the previous volume estimates to 77 – 180 million barrels recoverable of o.e. The well confirmed 69-m gas/condensate column in Tarbert and Ness FMs within the Brent Group. Congrats to Equinor and partners – Wellesley Petroleum (operator for the well), ORLEN, DNO.👏 Read more here.
– Well 30/8-7 S: Equinor and partners have made a gas and oil discovery at “Grimsnes” prospect in the Northern North Sea – (PL 190). The well found pay zones in Tarbert FM within the Jurassic Brent Group. Partners – Petoro AS, TotalEnergies. Read more here , and here.
– Well 6407/5-3 S: Vår Energi and partner have made a small gas and condensate discovery at Lakris prospect in the Norwegian Sea (PL 1002). The well found pay in the secondary target, Lower Jurassic Tilje FM. Partner – Equinor.👏 Read more here, and here .
– Well 15/6-18 S: AkerBP and partner have concluded drilling operations at Freke North prospect, an appraisal for Freke discovery in the North Sea (PL 1139). Spud dates – Sept 27 to Oct 22 by the Deepsea Nordkapp rig. Currently awaiting results from the well. Partner – Equinor.👏
➡️ Highlights / Comments:
👉 Lakris Discovery: The primary reservoir target (Cretaceous Nise FM) was missing, resulting in a minor discovery being made in the secondary target (which I correctly listed in my pre-drill summary). Check here 👉 (Lakris Prospect Review) for my review and full comments on the result of Lakris well. Like I wrote in my review, my pre-drill evaluation of the well did not support the Cretaceous Nise FM as a target at the location. 👉 Contact me to learn more, or for highgraded play maps on the Cretaceous Nise FM play. 👏
👉 Structural Geology Seminar by FORCE: The recent (Oct 13 – 14) seminar by FORCE on “Structural Controls on Depositional Processes” corroborates my article on the same subject, which was written earlier this year in January 2026 👉 see article here . Like I emphasised in the article, this is a vital concept that should be embedded in exploration workflows and prospect maturation. I then presented two recent case studies in which subsurface products based on the concept were used in the YTF Exploration’s Well Prediction Toolbox (WPT) to successfully predict the outcomes of two recent wildcat wells on the NCS
. Read more here.. 👏.
👉 Sub-Basalt Exploration Seminar by the NOD: The Norwegian Offshore Directorate (NOD) recently (Oct. 15) held a seminar on sub-basalt exploration opportunities. These opportunities are mainly located in the Outer Marginal High areas of the Vøring and Møre Basins, where Tertiary volcanism resulted in the occurrence of basalt layers above older sedimentary layers. Recent advancement in seismic imaging means that these prospective intervals can now be imaged more reliably and TGS has been showing some datasets to support that. 👉Check here for more on the Norwegian Offshore Directorate website – https://www.sodir.no/en/whats-new/news/general-news/2026/renewed-interest-in-exploring-under-the-basalt/ .
👉 Permitted and Upcoming Wildcats: Current list of permitted and upcoming wildcats includes – “Sava North” prospect by Vår Energi, “Anabelle” prospect by Vår Energi, “Schroeder” prospect by Equinor, “Grane” prospect by Equinor, Well 33/9-F-4 DH (prospect is SW of Snorre Field, as Equinor’s quest for more volumes in the Gullfaks area continues), and Well 16/4-14 by Equinor.👏 **See attached map for well locations. 👏
👉 Well Prediction Toolbox (WPT): Nine (9) WPT predictions have been made this year – (8 correct predictions resulting in 6 discoveries, 2 dry holes; 1 wrong prediction). 👉Contact me to learn more about the WPT toolbox and how it can be applied in your prospect evaluation process👏. **Note – The WPT toolbox uses data at both play & prospect levels, but WPT is only applied (applicable) where there’s enough critical data at the prospect level. **Pre-drill well predictions are not published for obvious reasons (sensitivity), but they are available upon enquiries. 👏
➡️ 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
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MAPS / IMAGES
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Tags: NCS, Exploration, Drilling, Prospect Review, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Wildcats, ILX Exploration, Near Field Wildcats, Play Based Exploration.
Featured Image: COSL Pioneer Rig (Source – COSL).
