The year 2025 was one of the most prolific in recent history for Norwegian offshore exploration, according to the Norwegian Offshore Directorate’s annual review.
The year saw the second-highest exploration levels in a decade, with 2021 being the only year to surpass it.
Several notable discoveries, facilitated by advanced technology, contributed to this success, and included the drilling of more than 10km of wellbores.
Despite these achievements, the Directorate emphasised the need for sustained exploration and development efforts to counteract an expected downturn in production levels in the coming years.
Norwegian Offshore Directorate director general Torgeir Stordal said: “It is truly inspiring that successful exploration can still be achieved on such a mature shelf.”
The report, entitled The Shelf in 2025, provides an overview of exploration and production activities on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS), as well as projections for investment and production over the next five years.
The year 2025 recorded high production levels, with oil output reaching 106 million standard cubic metres (mscm), the highest volume since 2009.
Production from the NCS was almost equally balanced between oil and gas.
A total of 120 billion standard cubic metres was sold, slightly less than the previous year’s record figures.
Stordal added: “We expect gas production to remain at this level over the next three to four years. Norwegian gas accounts for about 30% of EU gas consumption, and Norway is Europe’s largest supplier after cutting off Russian gas.”
Projected investments for 2026 stand at Nkr256bn, a 6.5% decrease from the previous year.
The Directorate anticipates a gradual reduction in investment levels towards 2030 due to the completion of current development projects and the absence of equivalent new ventures.
A decline in overall production is also anticipated by the late 2020s, underscoring the need for decisions on new field developments and the maintenance of high exploration activity.
Without continued investment, there could be significant dismantling within the petroleum industry.
Additionally, 2025 witnessed the creation of the world’s first comprehensive value chain for carbon capture and storage, reflecting a growing interest in secure CO₂ storage on the NCS.
The Directorate has also been active in mapping mineral resources and assessing environmental conditions in areas of interest.
“Norwegian Continental Shelf sees record exploration in 2025” was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.
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