Deep-water hopes still high in northwest Europe
Efficiency savings and the use of existing infrastructure mean deep-water prospects look more promising than they have done in recent years
Activity in the northwest European (NWE) deep-water sector is recovering in line with the global picture as crude prices rise and budgets pick up. Most NWE deep-water activity is near existing infrastructure, and the targets are generally smaller than elsewhere, especially in the UK's sector. Adam Wilson, senior global exploration analyst at Wood Mackenzie, says most of the NWE region doesn't quite qualify as deep water (over 400 metres) or ultra-deep water (1,500 metres): "Strictly speaking, NWE deep water is confined to West of Shetland (WoS) and a little bit in the Norwegian Sea. The Barents Sea is frontier continental shelf, but not really deep water, with not much over 400 metres." Wils
Also in this section
30 January 2026
As KPC deepens international partnerships, expands capacity and builds on breakthrough offshore success, Shaikh Nawaf S. Al Sabah says oil interdependence—not self sufficiency—will define the energy system for decades to come
29 January 2026
Caught between LNG risks from across the Atlantic and the wounds from Russian gas dependence, Europe needs more than a simple diversification strategy
28 January 2026
The alliance looks to bolster market management credibility by bringing greater clarity and unity to output cuts and producer capacity later in 2026
23 January 2026
A strategic pivot away from Russian crude in recent weeks tees up the possibility of improved US-India trade relations
