Norwegian Sea Exploration Success for Vår Energi

Norway’s Vår Energi has achieved a significant milestone with a successful gas discovery in an exploration well located in the Norwegian Sea.

The exploration well, known as 6406/11-2 S, was drilled as part of production licence 586, awarded in 2011. Situated approximately 8 kilometers west of the Vår-operated Fenja field, the discovery at the Vidsyn prospect has opened up new opportunities for the company.

Vår Energi holds a 75% interest in license 586 and operates the field, with DNO Norge recently acquiring a 25% stake. The partnership aims to expedite the development of the discovered resources for production.

The gas discovery, made using the Deepsea Yantai rig, marks the third commercial success for Vår Energi in 2025. The company plans to evaluate the potential of tying in the new discovery to the existing Fenja field.

Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani, Executive Chairman of DNO, expressed optimism about the discovery, stating, “Together with Vår Energi, we will work hard to put it into production faster than is the norm in Norway.”

The Vidsyn ridge where the discovery was made is estimated to hold up to 100 million barrels of oil equivalent gross. The confirmed recoverable resources range from 25 to 40 mmboe gross, indicating commercial viability. Further appraisal efforts will assess the remaining potential of the ridge.

Luca Dragonetti, Senior Vice-President of Exploration at Vår Energi, highlighted the significance of the discovery in unlocking potential in the Fenja area and leveraging existing infrastructure for development.

The exploration targets in the well aimed to prove petroleum in Lower to Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks in the Ile Formation and the Tilje and Tofte Formations. The well encountered a gas/condensate column in the Ile Formation with moderate to good reservoir properties.

Despite the success at the Vidsyn prospect, a recent drilling operation in another license where Vår Energi has interests resulted in a dry well.