Vår Energi achieves significant oil discovery in Cerisa well near Gjøa platform

Vår Energi, alongside its partners, has made a notable oil discovery in the Cerisa exploration well within production license PL 636 in the Norwegian Continental Shelf, marking a significant step forward in the region’s oil exploration endeavors.

The Cerisa well, operated by Vår Energi and its partners, yielded an estimated gross recoverable resource of between 18-39 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe). Located near the Gjøa platform, this discovery adds to the series of successful findings in the area, including the Gjøa North and Ofelia/Kyrre fields. With these combined discoveries, the total estimated gross recoverable resources in the vicinity are now up to 110 mmboe.

Vår Energi’s COO, Torger Rød, highlighted the strategic significance of the discovery: “The Gjøa area constitutes a key part of the Company’s hub strategy on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The Cerisa discovery is a testament to our consistent and successful exploration strategy, targeting high-value barrels close to existing infrastructure. It clearly demonstrates the potential to unlock further resources in the area and adds to the value accretive synergies resulting from the Neptune transaction.”

Vår Energi announces a major oil discovery at the Cerisa well in Norway, enhancing its production outlook and strengthening its position in the North Sea.

The discovery is positioned to enhance Vår Energi’s production significantly, supporting its target to deliver between 350-400 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day from 2025 onwards. The integration of these new assets is expected to leverage the existing infrastructure at the Gjøa field for a cost-effective and efficient development process.

The exploration well and its three sidetracks—drilled by the semi-submersible rig Deepsea Yantai—did not encounter the oil-water contact, suggesting a potential upside to the initial resource estimates. The Cerisa well is located approximately 17 kilometers northeast of the Gjøa platform and close to the Duva subsea template, making it an ideal candidate for tie-back to the existing facilities.

The license partners include Vår Energi ASA (30% operator), Inpex Idemitsu Norge AS (30%), PGNiG Upstream Norway AS (30%), and Sval Energi AS (10%). The collaboration among these companies underlines a shared vision for developing and optimizing resources in the North Sea.

The primary exploration target for the Cerisa well was the Agat Formation in the Lower Cretaceous. The wells showed significant oil columns and good to moderate reservoir quality, although the oil-water contact was not established, indicating further exploration potential.

The wells, following extensive data acquisition and sampling, are slated for permanent plugging and abandonment, adhering to environmental and regulatory standards.

The Cerisa discovery reinforces Vår Energi’s position as a leader in the Norwegian oil sector and exemplifies the effective use of existing infrastructure to maximize resource development. This approach not only enhances production efficiency but also aligns with broader industry trends focusing on sustainable and responsible resource management.