Sokkeldirektoratet

Dry well in the Norwegian Sea (6305/10-1)

The drilling activity was carried out by the Deepsea Yantai rig. (Photo: Odfjell Drilling)
The drilling activity was carried out by the Deepsea Yantai rig. (Photo: Odfjell Drilling)

1/22/2025 Orlen Upstream Norway and its partner Norske Shell have drilled a dry well, wildcat well 6305/10-1 “Tomcat”, in the southern part of the Norwegian Sea.

This was the first exploration well in production licence 1055, which was awarded in 2020 (Awards in predefined areas (APA) 2019).

The drilling activity was carried out by the Deepsea Yantai rig, about 40 kilometres south of the Ormen Lange field.

Geological info

The objective of the well was to prove petroleum in Upper Cretaceous reservoir rocks in the Lysing Formation. The secondary exploration target was to prove petroleum in Upper Cretaceous reservoir rocks belonging to the Kvitnos and Lysing formations.

The primary exploration target was encountered 3806 metres below sea level. The reservoir zone was 118 metres thick with alternating siltstone, limestone and some thin sandstone layers with generally poor reservoir quality.

No reservoir was proven in the secondary exploration targets.

Well 6305/10-1 was drilled to a vertical depth of 3993 metres below sea level, and was terminated in the Lange Formation in the Lower Cretaceous.

Water depth at the site is 367 metres. The well has been permanently plugged and abandoned.

Map showing the location of well 6305/10-1

 

Contact
Bjørn Rasen

Tel: +47 51 87 60 00

Updated: 1/22/2025

Latest news

Full house eager to learn at Technology Day
6/5/2026 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate is working to encourage the industry to develop, cooperate more closely and utilise new technology to an even greater extent. Tickets for this year's Technology Day were in high demand.
Drilling permit for wellbore 15/6-17
5/20/2026 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Aker BP ASA drilling permit for wellbore 15/6-17 in production licence 979.
Production figures April 2026
5/20/2026 Preliminary production figures for April 2026 show an average daily production of 2 158 000 barrels of oil, NGL and condensate.
Drilling permit for wellbore 34/10-56 S
5/8/2026 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor Energy AS drilling permit for wellbore 34/10-56 S in production licence 050 HS.
Announcement of awards in predefined areas (APA) 2026
5/5/2026 The Ministry of Energy announced APA 2026 on 5 May 2026, encompassing the predefined areas with blocks in the North Sea, Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea. 
The prospect form is updated
4/29/2026 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has updated the prospect form for reporting prospects, leads and in some cases, discoveries.
Drilling permit for wellbore 7220/5-EC-2 H
4/27/2026 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor Energy AS drilling permit for wellbore 7220/5-EC-2 H in production licence 532.
Dry well in the North Sea (34/8-A-37 H)
4/22/2026 Equinor and its partners have drilled a dry well in the “Skoll” and “Hati” prospects, east of the Visund field in the North Sea.
Production figures March 2026
4/21/2026 Preliminary production figures for March 2026 show an average daily production of 2 152 000 barrels of oil, NGL and condensate.
Advanced methods can curb production decline
4/15/2026 There is no time to waste if we want to extract more oil and gas from the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) using advanced methods (EOGR). The benefits for our broader society could be enormous.