Equinor and its partners have found an estimated 3.3 million to 10.3 million barrels of recoverable oil equivalent in gas at Norway's Gullfaks South field. The discovery came from an exploration sidetrack drilled during work on a production well, and Equinor has not disclosed a development cost, start date, or output rate.
Equinor and its partners have discovered an estimated 3.3 million to 10.3 million barrels of recoverable oil equivalent in gas at Norway's Gullfaks South field. The find came using an exploration sidetrack drilled during work on a production well.
The field sits about 190 kilometers northwest of Bergen, according to Equinor. The find contains an estimated 0.5 million to 1.6 million standard cubic meters of recoverable oil equivalent. The Askeladden rig drilled the exploration well, formally designated 34/10-D-4 BH. The discovery sits within the Gullfaks production license, where Equinor partners with Petoro and OMV.
Sidetrack drilling keeps exploration costs down
Gunnar Egge, Equinor's vice president for the Gullfaks field, said discoveries of this size could be made through cost-effective exploration wells. According to Equinor: "profitable barrels that can help maintain activity and production on the Gullfaks field" is how he described the resources.
That assessment points to the value of smaller discoveries in established producing areas, where outcomes depend on development costs and access to existing facilities as much as on resource size. A sidetrack drilled alongside a production well can reduce the scope of a separate exploration campaign, though bringing the discovery into production remains a separate cost question. Equinor did not disclose a development cost, production start date, or expected output rate in the announcement.
Mature field, fresh volumes
For mature crude oil fields like Gullfaks, smaller discoveries can help offset declining output and extend the life of existing infrastructure. Where new resources can reach nearby wells and processing facilities, they may become commercially attractive even at volumes too small to justify a standalone project.
Equinor sees the new volumes at Gullfaks South as a profitable addition that can help sustain activity and production. The announcement leaves the development schedule open, but the discovery adds another option for keeping output flowing from the area.
Source: Equinor
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