Norwegian energy giant Equinor and Austria’s OMV are preparing to drill separate significant offshore exploration wells which, if successful, will boost their gas supply portfolios.

Equinor plans to drill the Heisenberg prospect in a new play area that was opened up by the recent Kveikje discovery near its Troll field in the North Sea.

OMV has the high-impact Velocette gas exploration well in its sights — a large prospect in Block PL 1016 in the Norwegian Sea that attracted recent attention as it was featured on Westwood Global Energy’s list of “key global wells” in 2023.