ZACKS·2025-09-02 14:06Core Insights - Equinor ASA has drilled a dry exploration well in the Barents Sea, indicating no commercial hydrocarbons were found in the latest prospect [1] Group 1: Well Details - The dry well, named Deimos (7117/4-1), was drilled using the COSL Prospector rig and is located about 135 km west of the Snøhvit field [2] - Equinor holds a 40% stake in the production license 1238, with partners Vår Energi, Aker BP, and Petoro each holding 20% [2] Group 2: Geological Results - The drilling targeted Eocene and Paleocene reservoir rocks of the Torsk Formation, but high pressures necessitated a technical sidetrack, leaving both primary and secondary targets unmet [3] - A four-meter sandstone layer with good reservoir quality was encountered, but no commercial hydrocarbons were discovered [3] Group 3: Operational Impact - The well reached a vertical depth of 2,511 meters below sea level in a water depth of 283 meters before being classified as dry and set to be permanently plugged and abandoned [4] - This outcome represents a setback for Equinor's exploration efforts in the Barents Sea, although other activities in the region, such as around Johan Castberg, continue [4] Group 4: Broader Context - The rig deal for the COSL Prospector includes a two-year contract with options to extend, providing flexibility for ongoing and future exploration in Norwegian waters [5]