Sokkeldirektoratet

More oil discovered near Snorre (34/4-19 S)

The well was drilled using the Deepsea Atlantic rig. (Photo: Odfjell Drilling)
The well was drilled using the Deepsea Atlantic rig. (Photo: Odfjell Drilling)

3/2/2026 Equinor and its partners have discovered oil on the “Omega Sør Alfa” prospect in the North Sea, around 200 kilometres northwest of Bergen.

Exploration well 34/4-19 S was drilled in production licence 057, which was awarded in the fourth licensing round on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) in 1979. This exploration wellbore is the 14th to be drilled in the production licence.

Preliminary estimates place the size of the discovery between 4-14.2 million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable oil equivalent (o.e.). This corresponds to 25 – 89 million barrels of recoverable o.e. The licensees will consider tying the discovery back to existing infrastructure in the Tampen area.

The licensees in production licence 057 are Equinor (operator), Petoro, Harbour Energy, INPEX Idemitsu and Vår Energi.

The well was drilled using the Deepsea Atlantic rig.

Geological information

The objective of the well was to prove petroleum in Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks in the Brent Group. 
 
Well 34/4-19 encountered oil in sandstone layers with a total thickness of 224.5 metres, 127 metres of which were sandstone layers with moderate to good reservoir properties. The oil/water contact was not encountered. 

The well was not formation-tested, but extensive data acquisition and sampling were carried out. 

Well 34/4-19 was drilled to respective vertical and measured depths of 3872 and 4090 metres below sea level, and was terminated in the Drake Formation in the Middle Jurassic. 

Water depth at the site is 381 metres. The well will be temporarily plugged and abandoned.

Map showing the location of well 34/4-19 S.

 

Contact
postboks@sodir.no

Tel: +47 51 87 60 00

Updated: 3/2/2026

Latest news

Who deserves the Improved Recovery Award?
3/4/2026 There is still time to propose candidates for the award, but the deadline is quickly approaching.
Profitable development of tight reservoirs
3/3/2026 According to a mapping conducted by the Norwegian Offshore Directorate, cooperation between the companies, cost reductions and applying new technology can contribute to profitable production from tight reservoirs.
More oil discovered near Snorre (34/4-19 S)
3/2/2026 Equinor and its partners have discovered oil on the “Omega Sør Alfa” prospect in the North Sea, around 200 kilometres northwest of Bergen.
High production and increase in petroleum resources
2/20/2026 According to the Resource Accounts for 2025, oil production on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) in 2025 was the highest since 2009.
Production figures January 2026
2/20/2026 Preliminary production figures for January 2026 show an average daily production of 2 219 000 barrels of oil, NGL and condensate.
Dry well in the Barents Sea (7018/5-2)
2/18/2026 Equinor and its partners have drilled a dry well on the "Vikingskipet" prospect.
Oil and gas discovery and dry well in the North Sea (33/12-N-3 HH and 33/12-N-3 GH)
2/16/2026 Equinor and its partners have discovered oil and gas in the "Granat" prospect near Gullfaks, 190 kilometres northwest of Bergen.
Dry well in the North Sea (25/8-C-23 D)
2/12/2026 Vår Energi and its partner Kistos Energy have drilled a dry well in the Balder area in the North Sea.
Drilling permit for wellbore 25/7-13
1/29/2026 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor Energy AS drilling permit for wellbore 25/7-13 in production licence 782 S.
Discovered more petroleum on the Brage field (31/4-A-15 D)
1/28/2026 OKEA and its partners have discovered petroleum in the "Knockando Fensfjord" prospect in the North Sea.