Equinor's Rapid Development Plan for Snorre Oil Discovery
- The Snorre area discovery holds an estimated 25-89 million barrels of recoverable oil equivalents.
- Development will utilize existing infrastructure, enabling production in 2-3 years.
- Norway supplies 20% of Europe's oil and 30% of its gas, with declining production from existing fields.
- Equinor plans to drill 250 exploration wells, mostly near existing fields, by 2035.
Discovery and Estimates
The Snorre area has revealed a new oil discovery, with estimates ranging from 25 to 89 million barrels of recoverable oil equivalents. This discovery was confirmed by the Deepsea Atlantic rig.
Development Strategy
The new find will be integrated into existing subsea facilities and processed through the Snorre A platform. This approach leverages existing infrastructure, reducing costs and accelerating production timelines to just two to three years.
Innovative Approach
Omega South serves as a pilot for a more efficient method of developing subsea fields. By planning field development prior to discovery, the project aims to reuse existing foundations and parts of the exploration well, further cutting costs and speeding up start-up times.
Energy Security and Future Plans
Norwegian oil and gas are vital for European energy security, meeting 20% of Europe's oil and 30% of its gas needs. With production from existing fields declining, increasing exploration and accelerating new developments are crucial. Equinor aims to maintain production levels through 2035, with 70% of output from new wells and developments, planning to drill 250 exploration wells, primarily near existing fields.
Snorre Field History
The Snorre field has been operational since 1992, with recent expansions adding 200 million barrels and extending its life beyond 2040. The new Omega South discovery will integrate into this infrastructure, optimizing resource use and minimizing development costs.
Source: Equinor