Wednesday 11th February 2026
10:30am GMT – 45 minute session
What do 2025’s results mean for the future of exploration in Northwest Europe?
Join Alyson Harding and Stephen Coomber for a detailed review of last year’s exploration and appraisal performance across the UK and Norway continental shelves, along with an outlook for 2026 activity. Discover why the UKCS faces a sparse outlook while the NCS is set for another strong year.
Agenda Highlights
- 2025 proved to be a challenging year for the UKCS, with minimal E&A drilling as companies awaited outcomes from various government consultations – raising the question of whether to ‘stay or go’.
- Norway, by contrast, maintained strong momentum, completing 33 exploration wells and recording its second highest discovered resources since 2013.
- 2026 is looking sparse for the UKCS, with only three exploration wells expected to spud – largely due to multiple licence extensions granted by the NSTA to allow additional time for drilling under firm or Phase C commitments.
- Norway, on the other hand, anticipates a robust year ahead with 42 exploration and four appraisal wells expected to operate in 2026.
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