Norwegian energy company Equinor has announced a new oil discovery in the Drivis structure on the Johan Castberg field in the Barents Sea. The discovery is estimated to contain between nine and fifteen million barrels of oil.
The oil was found in the Tubåen formation, 1,769 metres below the seabed. The exploration well was drilled by the Transocean Enabler drilling rig as an extension from an existing production well. Equinor and its partners will consider tying the new discovery into the Johan Castberg field infrastructure.
The discovery was announced shortly after the Johan Castberg field reached its plateau production of approximately 220,000 barrels of oil per day on June 17.
Grete Birgitte Haaland, an Equinor senior vice president, stated that the company aims to increase the field's reserves and is planning six new increased oil recovery wells and continuous exploration. She also noted the planned development of the nearby Isflak discovery, which is targeted for a 2028 start-up.