Appraisal well confirms oil discovery in the Barents Sea (7122/8-3 A)
1/16/2026 Vår Energi's appraisal well 7122/8-3 A has confirmed the 7122/8-3 S ("Zagato") oil discovery in the Goliat area.
Preliminary estimates indicate the size of the discovery is between 3.3 and 11.9 million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable oil equivalent (o.e.). This corresponds to between 21 and 75 million barrels of o.e.
This exploration well is the 14th well drilled in production licence 229, which was awarded in the Barents Sea Project (1997).
The exploration well was drilled by the COSLProspector rig.
The licensees are considering tying the discovery back to existing infrastructure on the Goliat field.
Geological information
The discovery was proven in Lower Jurassic/Upper Triassic reservoir rocks in the Realgrunnen Subgroup and in Middle Triassic reservoir rocks in the Kobbe Formation in 2025. Before well 7122/8-3 S was drilled, the operator's resource estimate for the discovery was between 2.8 and 10.1 million Sm3 of recoverable o.e.
The well's objective was to delineate the 7122/8-3 S ("Zagato") discovery in Middle Triassic reservoir rocks in the Kobbe Formation.
Well 7122/8-3 A encountered multiple oil columns totalling 63 metres in the Kobbe Formation in reservoir rocks comprising a total of 38 metres with moderate to good reservoir quality. The total thickness in the Kobbe Formation is 189 metres. Oil/water contacts were encountered 2098 and 2187 metres below sea level in respective upper and lower reservoir zones in the Kobbe Formation. The oil/water contact was not encountered in the middle reservoir zone in the Kobbe Formation.
Two successful formation tests were conducted. The maximum production rate in the upper reservoir zone in the Kobbe Formation was 738 Sm3 of oil per flow day through a 52/64-inch nozzle opening, with a gas/oil ratio of 95 Sm3/Sm3. The maximum production rate in the middle reservoir zone in the Kobbe Formation was 659 Sm3 of oil per flow day through a 60/64-inch nozzle opening, with a gas/oil ratio of 117 Sm3/Sm3. The formation tests showed good flow properties.
Appraisal well 7122/8-3 A was drilled to respective measured/vertical depths of 2285/2268 metres below sea level, and was terminated in the Kobbe Formation in the Middle Triassic.
Water depth at the site is 410 metres, and the well has been permanently plugged and abandoned.
Updated: 1/16/2026