Join us for an exploration seminar

7/16/2024 We look forward to welcoming you to a seminar on the topic of exploration in the Barents Sea, to be held on 23-24 October 2024 at our offices in Stavanger. The seminar will include presentations by the Ministry of Energy, the Norwegian Offshore Directorate, licensees and suppliers.

The objective of the event is to highlight challenges and opportunities associated with exploration in the Barents Sea and to stimulate increased exploration activity in the area. 

The primary target group for the seminar consists of employees in the resource authorities, licensees and suppliers on the Norwegian continental shelf.

"There are significant opportunities to prove more resources in the Barents Sea. Large parts of this sea area is still fairly frontier acreage, which means that companies may have opportunities to find valuable barrels,” says Arne Jacobsen, Assistant director, subsurface and technology.

Challenging exploration

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate’s analyses indicate substantial remaining resources in the Barents Sea, but exploration in the Barents Sea is challenging. The geological history with considerable erosion and uplift of extensive areas has resulted in leakage from a number of structures that were previously filled with hydrocarbons.

This fact has led to many disappointments in the more than 40-year exploration history in the Barents Sea. Despite this, several discoveries have been made of commercial volumes that are currently being produced, and there are definitely chances of finding more.

More information and registration for the seminar

Presentations from the seminar

Hydrocarbon seeps, new mud volcanos and the search for a new young source rock in the westernmost Barents Sea (pdf)

Unlocking the gas resources in the Barents Sea (pdf)

Remaining undiscovered resources in the Barents Sea (pdf)

Updated: 1/31/2025

Latest news

Appraisal well in the North Sea increases projection (16/1-EA-4 H)
9/25/2026 Aker BP and its partners Equinor and DNO have drilled an appraisal well on the "Verdandi" and "Lillefix" discoveries in the North Sea. This well increases the projected discovery size.
Production figures August 2026
9/22/2026 Preliminary production figures for August 2026 show an average daily production of 2 073 000 barrels of oil, NGL and condensate.
Aker BP has made a gas discovery in the North Sea (36/4-2 and 36/4-2 A)
9/16/2026 Preliminary calculations show that the size is between 0.15 and 2.4 million standard cubic metres of recoverable oil equivalent (Sm3 of o.e.), which corresponds to 1-15 million barrels.
Drilling permit for wellbore 25/9-5 S
9/15/2026 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor Energy AS drilling permit for wellbore 25/9-5 S in production licence 1042.
Growing exploration interest
9/11/2026 The authorities have received applications from 21 companies in the Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) 2025. The deadline for applications was 1 September.
New NCS map 2026
9/8/2026 You can now download or order a printed version of the Directorate's most recent map of the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS).
Resource report 2026 in English
9/8/2026 The Resource report is now also available in English.
New director at the Norwegian Offshore Directorate
9/7/2026 Siv Fagerland Christensen has taken up her position as Director of governance, finance and shared services.
Register for our seminar on sub-basalt exploration
8/31/2026 Welcome to a seminar on sub-basalt exploration on 15 October 2026 at our offices. The seminar speakers will represent operators, suppliers, academia and the authorities.
Okea receives award for improved recovery on its oil fields
8/25/2026 This year's winner of the Norwegian Offshore Directorate's “Improved Recovery Award” has worked systematically to revitalise the Draugen and Brage fields.