Two Norwegian companies, Equinor and Wellesley Petroleum, have established a joint exploration project with the goal of participating in up to 15 high-pressure, high-temperature (HP/HT) exploration wells offshore Norway between 2027 and 2030. This initiative reflects a broader industry ambition in Norway to master HP/HT and other challenging reservoirs with significant resource potential.

Project Scope and Rationale

The collaboration will focus on HP/HT opportunities in selected core areas of the Northern North Sea, where deeper targets remain underexplored but offer significant potential. The wells are likely to be located near existing production infrastructure. The companies recognize the challenge of declining production on the Norwegian Continental Shelf in the coming decade, stating that successful exploration close to existing hubs is key to sustaining output, maximizing resource recovery, and extending the life of offshore facilities.

Nature of the Collaboration

The joint project involves sharing datasets, interpretations, and technical expertise to mature prospects more efficiently and prioritize the best candidates to drill. It is explicitly stated that this does not constitute a joint venture, partnership, or new legal entity. Each company retains its independence and will operate within existing licence structures, with all drilling decisions subject to approval by the relevant production licence partnerships. Wellesley will target operating three to five HP/HT wells per year in licences where both companies have interests.

Industry Context and Technological Needs

Equinor's largest discoveries of 2025, at the Lofn and Langemann prospects, were HP/HT wells, underscoring the focus on this play type. Another Norwegian company, Aker BP, which is developing the Fenris HP/HT field, has also emphasized the importance of tapping into HP/HT and complex reservoirs. The industry view is that Norwegian oil and gas production is near its peak and will decline without decisive action. This action requires sustained exploration activity to deliver commercially viable discoveries and rapid technology development to increase recovery from existing fields and to unlock smaller, more complex resources like tight and HP/HT reservoirs.