Equinor strikes oil in Barents Sea

Norway

OSLO, June 30, 2025 – Equinor has discovered oil on the Johan Castberg field in the Norwegian section of the Barents Sea, the company said on Sunday.

The find was made in the Drivis Tubåen structure, with preliminary estimates placing the volume at 9 million-15 million barrels. The Tubåen formation lies 1,769 metres below the seabed in 345 metres of water and was drilled as an exploratory extension from a production well by the Transocean Enabler rig.

The discovery, located in production licence 532, may be tied into the existing Johan Castberg infrastructure.

“This discovery can provide additional reserves for the field,” Equinor senior vice-president for exploration and production north Grete Birgitte Haaland said.

“Our clear ambition is to increase the reserves by another 250 million-550 million barrels. To realise this, we are planning six new IOR wells and continuous exploration activity.”

Production at Johan Castberg reached plateau on June 17 and is currently around 220,000 bopd, with tankers departing every three to four days. Equinor intends to drill one to two exploration wells annually around the field, supported by two rigs.

Photo of the Transocean Enabler courtesy of Equinor