Oljedirektoratet

The shelf in 2004 - Petroleum production

14/01/2005 Production of marketable petroleum reached a new peak in 2004, with a total of 263 million marketable Sm3 oil equivalents being produced. This is 1 million Sm3 o.e. more than the record year 2003.

Two new fields have come on stream during the year, Skirne and Kvitebjørn. For 2005 it is expected that another two will come on stream, Kristin and Urd.

The total production of petroleum in 2005 is expected to be 264 million Sm3 oil equivalents (o.e.) before rising again and peaking in 2008. It is expected that 1,390 million Sm3 o.e. will be produced during the five year period up to 2009. This is over 100 million Sm3 more than during the five year period 2000 - 2004.

The increase is caused by gas sales. In 2004 gas sales amounted to 78 billion Sm3; an increase of 4.8 billion from 2003 (+ 7%). Production of marketable gas is expected to rise for some years to come. The basis scenario prepared by the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) includes an expectation that gas sales will increase from today's level to 120 billion Sm3 in 2011.

Oil production was lower last year than in previous years. 162.8 million Sm3 were produced and delivered in 2003, compared to 165.5 million the year before. The oil production for 2004 was 2.8 per cent lower than the NPD's last forecast.

The difference is largely due to the lack of production from Snorre and Vigdis in December 2004.

For 2005 the NPD is expecting oil production to be somewhat lower than in 2004; 160 million Sm3 (2,8 million barrels per day). It is expected that around 765 million Sm3 oil will be produced during the period 2005 - 2009. This is 100 million Sm3 less than in the previous five-year period.

Contact in the NPD:
Eldbjørg Vaage Melberg, tel +47 51876100

Updated: 04/09/2009

Latest news

Announcement of awards in predefined areas (APA) 2024
08/05/2024 The Ministry of Energy announced APA 2024 on 8 May 2024, encompassing the predefined areas with blocks in the Norwegian Sea, Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea.
Drilling permission for the wells 7324/6-2 and 7324/8-4
06/05/2024 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Aker BP ASA drilling permit for the wells 7324/6-2 and 7324/8-4 in production license 1170, cf. Section 13 of the Resource Management Regulations.
Eight companies have applied for CO2 storage acreage
30/04/2024 The Norwegian Ministry of Energy has received applications from eight companies in connection with the announcement of two areas in the North Sea for potential storage of CO2 on the Norwegian shelf.
Invitation to nominate blocks for mineral activities on the seabed
29/04/2024 In a letter of 29 April, the Norwegian Offshore Directorate invited players to nominate blocks in connection with the first licensing round for mineral activities on the seabed.
Drilling permission for wells 35/10-14 S and 35/10-14 A
29/04/2024 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor Energy AS drilling permit for wells 35/10-14 S and 35/10-14 A in production license 1185, cf. Section 13 of the Resource Management Regulations.
Well for data acquisition on Wisting
22/04/2024 Equinor has completed an appraisal well (7324/7-4) on the Wisting discovery in the Barents Sea. The objective was to acquire data on the reservoir and cap rock, for use in ongoing evaluation and development of the discovery.
Production figures March 2024
19/04/2024 Preliminary production figures for March 2024 show an average daily production of 2 086 000 barrels of oil, NGL and condensate.
Norwegian Offshore Directorate publishes new deep sea data
17/04/2024 In June 2022, the Norwegian Offshore Directorate published data collected up to 2022. The Directorate is now releasing deep sea data gathered from 2022 to 2024.
The future in the Barents Sea is here now
17/04/2024 The Johan Castberg ship will soon be heading north. With the ship in place, the plan is to have three producing fields in the Barents Sea by the end of the year.
Oil discovery in the North Sea
17/04/2024 Vår Energi has made an oil discovery in "Ringhorne Nord" (wells 25/8-23 S and 25/8-23 A & B), north of the Ringhorne Øst field, 200 kilometres northwest of Stavanger.