Sokkeldirektoratet

Discovery near the Munin field in the North Sea (30/12-3 S and 30/12-3 A)

deepsea-stavanger-odfjell-drilling(2).jpg

The drilling was conducted by the Deepsea Stavanger drilling rig. (Photo: Odfjell Drilling)

1/22/2024 Equinor Energy AS has discovered oil in exploration well 30/12-3 S in the North Sea. The well also included a sidetrack, 30/12-3 A, which was dry.

The wells were drilled about 40 kilometres south of Oseberg and 150 kilometres west of Bergen. The drilling was conducted by the Deepsea Stavanger drilling rig.

Equinor drilled the well on behalf of Aker BP, which is the operator of production licence 272 B. This is the first well in the production licence.

Aker BP and Equinor each have ownership interests of 50 per cent in the production licence, which was awarded in APA 2018. The production licence is part of the Munin field, which was discovered in 2011. The authorities approved the plan for development and operation (PDO) for Munin in June 2023.

Between 0.15 and 0.55 million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable oil equivalent (o.e.) was proven in well 30/12-3 S.

Preliminary calculations show that the discovery is not profitable with current price assumptions.

Geological information

The objective of wildcat wells 30/12-3 S and 30/12-3 A was to prove petroleum in Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks in the Tarbert Formation.

Well 30/12-3 S encountered a 3.5-metre oil column in the Tarbert Formation, in a sandstone reservoir with moderate reservoir quality. The Tarbert Formation was about 195 metres thick, 97 metres of which was sandstone rocks with moderate-good reservoir quality. The oil/water contact was encountered 3110 meters below sea level.

The Ness Formation was about 163 metres thick in total, 19 metres of which was a sandstone reservoir with moderate reservoir quality.

Well 30/12-3 A encountered the Tarbert Formation with a thickness of about 216 meters, 19 meters of which was sandstone rocks with poor reservoir quality. The Ness Formation was about 50 metres thick in total, 11 metres of which was a sandstone reservoir with moderate reservoir quality. The well was dry.

The wells were not formation-tested, but data acquisition was undertaken.

Well 30/12-3 S was drilled to measured and vertical depths of 3696 metres and 3464 metres below sea level, respectively, and was terminated in the Drake Formation. Well 30/12-3 A was drilled to measured and vertical depths of 4550 and 3718 metres below sea level, respectively, and was terminated in the Ness Formation. Water depth in the area is 106 metres. The well has now been permanently plugged and abandoned.

Map showing the location of well 30/12-3 S.

 

Contact

Ola Anders Skauby

Director Communication, public affairs and emergency response

Tel: +47 905 98 519

Updated: 6/27/2024

Latest news

Norwegian companies take a more dominant role
12/11/2025 A new report from the Norwegian Offshore Directorate shows that, in 2024, there were 24 oil and gas companies on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS). This is the lowest number since activity started up on the shelf. At the same time, developments in exploration activity reveal a clear shift from global to Norwegian players.
Drilling permit for wellbore 35/11-32 S
12/9/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor Energy AS drilling permit for wellbore 35/11-32 S in production licence 090 HS.
Gas/condensate discovery in the North Sea (15/5-8 S and A)
12/5/2025 Equinor and its partner Aker BP have discovered hydrocarbons in the "Lofn" and "Langemann" prospects.
Oil and gas discovery in the Barents Sea (7122/7-8)
12/4/2025 Vår Energi and its partners have discovered oil and gas in the "Goliat Nord" prospect.
Who deserves the Improved Recovery Award?
11/25/2025 The time has come to nominate candidates for this prize, which was first awarded in 1998. Back then it was known as the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate’s IOR Award.
Production figures October 2025
11/20/2025 Preliminary production figures for October 2025 show an average daily production of 2 017 000 barrels of oil, NGL and condensate.
Drilling permit for well 33/12-N-3 GH and 33/12-N-3 HH
11/20/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor Energy AS drilling permit for wellbore 33/12-N-3 GH in production licence 037 B/152 and 33/12-N-3 HH in production licence 037 B/277.
Dry well in the North Sea (2/6-8 S and 2/6-8 ST2)
11/18/2025 DNO and its partners have drilled a dry well in the "Page" prospect in the southern part of the North Sea, about 270 kilometres from Stavanger and 40 kilometres from Ekofisk.
What would you like to learn more about at Technology Day 2026?
11/17/2025 The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate is pleased to announce Technology Day 2026. Save the date – 4 June 2026 – and take this opportunity to nominate speakers for the event!
New Dashboard: Resource stats by company
11/14/2025 Our new Dashboard provides an overview of the licensees’ respective petroleum resources and reserves on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS).