Norwegian oil and gas company DNO has made what it claims is Norway’s largest hydrocarbon discovery in ten years.

The gas and condensate strike was made on the Carmen prospect in the licence PL1148, Norwegian Continental Shelf.

As per the preliminary evaluation, the discovery holds gross recoverable resources in the range of 120–230 million barrels of oil equivalent (mboe).

The preliminary assessment was carried out on comprehensive data, including cores and fluid samples, acquired from the discovery well and a follow-on extended sidetrack.

In a press statement, DNO said: “At 175mboe, the mid-point of this range, Carmen ranks as the largest discovery on the Norwegian Continental Shelf since 2013.

“The two wells have established a deeper hydrocarbon-water contact, tripling the mid-point of DNO’s pre-drill expected range.”

DNO holds a 30% stake in PL1148, which is operated by Wellesley Petroleum with a 50% stake. Other licence partners include Equinor (10%) and Aker BP (10%).

DNO executive chairman Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani said: “Norway is the gift that keeps on giving.

“Carmen proves there are important discoveries still to be made and Norway’s oldest oil company, DNO, will be part of this next chapter of the country’s oil and gas story.”

In March 2023, Equinor and DNO announced an oil and gas discovery in production licence PL827S, near the Troll field in the Norwegian North Sea, following the drilling of wildcat well 35/10-9.

The discovery is estimated to hold gross recoverable resources in the range of 24–84mboe.