Sokkeldirektoratet

Minor increase in oil and gas resources on the NCS

ressursregnskapet-2024-forside

2/20/2025 Total petroleum resources on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) saw a minor increase last year, according to last year’s "inventory" – the Resource Accounts for 2024.

The Resource Accounts for 2024 show a small increase in the total petroleum resources on the NCS. There was an increase in reserves, a reduction in contingent resources and a small increase in undiscovered resources.

Here are the estimates for total resource volumes (including the volume that has been sold and delivered):

  • 8 980 million standard cubic metres (Sm³) of liquids
  • 6 631 billion Sm³ of gas
  • Total of 15 611 million Sm³ of oil equivalent (o.e.)

This amounts to an increase of 36 million Sm³ of o.e. compared with the previous year.

Around 56 per cent of the total resources on the NCS have been sold and delivered. 15 per cent are reserves yet to be produced. 7 per cent are contingent resources in fields and discoveries. 22 per cent of the total resources have yet to be discovered.

"The Resource Accounts show high and stable production on the NCS, while resource growth from exploration was low in 2024. If we are to maintain this production level in the years to come, we will have to increase exploration and investment in new projects," says Nadine Mader-Kayser, Assistant director for Data and analysis in Technology, analysis and co-existence.

We have implemented a new visualisation tool for the Resource Accounts for 2024 to make the report’s statistics more user-friendly, in part by enabling filtering in the basic data for figures.

The actual accounts (Excel) contain less information than previously. Detailed information on discoveries and fields can be found in our FactPages.

 

About resource categories:

  • Resources is a general term for all oil and gas that can be recovered.
  • Resources are classified according to maturity, which measures how far along they are in the planning phase leading to production.
  • The primary classifications are reserves, contingent resources and undiscovered resources.
  • Reserves are recoverable petroleum volumes not yet produced, but which have been approved for production.
  • Contingent resources are resources in projects awaiting a development decision.
  • Reserves and contingent resources make up total discovered recoverable resources.
Contact
postboks@sodir.no

Tel: +47 51 87 60 00

Updated: 2/20/2025

Latest news

Dry well in the North Sea (30/11-16 S)
11/7/2025 Aker BP and its partners have drilled a dry well in the Yggdrasil area in the North Sea.
Drilling permit for wellbore 7220/7-5
11/7/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor Energy AS drilling permit for wellbore 7220/7-5 in production licence 532.
New CCS guidelines
11/3/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has drawn up guidelines explaining how to fulfil the requirements in Section 26 of the Regulations relating to documentation in connection with storage of CO2 on the Norwegian continental shelf.
New report about power from shore
10/29/2025 Power from shore as replacement for gas turbines has been the most important abatement to reduce greenhouse gases emissions offshore.
Drilling permit for wellbore 7018/5-2
10/29/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor Energy AS drilling permit for wellbore 7018/5-2 in production licence 1236.
Drilling permit for wellbore 25/8-C-23 D
10/24/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Vår Energi ASA drilling permit for wellbore 25/8-C-23 D in production licence 027.
Production figures September 2025
10/21/2025 Preliminary production figures for September 2025 show an average daily production of 1 991 000 barrels of oil, NGL and condensate.
Public consultation – proposed changes to two regulations
10/2/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate is submitting proposed changes to the Resource Management Regulations and the Regulations relating to documentation in connection with storage of CO2 on the shelf for public consultation.
Drilling permit for wellbore 35/8-8 S
10/2/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Harbour Energy Norge AS drilling permit for wellbore 35/8-8 S in production licence 248 LS og 248 B.
Popular tours of the Geobank during the Ulltra festival – celebrating the future
9/26/2025 At the end of September, the Norwegian Offshore Directorate participated in a brand-new festival at Ullandhaug - Ulltra 2025. Registered visitors had the opportunity to take part in a guided tour of the Geobank in our offices.