THE Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has acquired seismic data in the areas off Lofoten, Vesteralen and Senja (Nordland VI and Troms II) that points to recoverable petroleum resources in the order of 1.3billion barrels oil equivalent. Based on the new knowledge and previously acquired data, the NPD has mapped the areas and estimated the resource potential.
The evaluation also covers Vestfjorden, the unopened part of Nordland V, Nordland VI and the Eggakanten area in the south-western part of the Barents Sea. The main conclusions are:
Nordland VI appears to be most prospective area.
Nordland VII and Troms II together would appear to have similar volumes to Nordland VI.
The resource estimate for oil is larger than for gas in Nordland VI and VII.
In Troms II, gas appears to be the most likely possibility.
A total of 50 prospects have been mapped in Nordland VI and VII and Troms II.
The NPD says there is uncertainty associated with the estimate for the undiscovered resources. However, it also says this uncertainty can be reduced over time through staged exploration, including the drilling of exploration wells.