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How might sustained higher prices impact North Sea output?

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Conflict in the Middle East continues to cause supply disruption and price volatility. In a scenario of substantially increased oil and gas prices over the next year, how would the outlook for North Sea producers change in 2026? While there was a response to the gas supply shock of 2022, this was preceded by a period of steadily rising energy prices. The circumstances are different today, and the sector is far less prepared to respond. We expect the reaction from North Sea producers to a prolonged period of high prices would be more muted this time. This report details the levers North Sea producers could pull to respond to higher prices.

Table of contents

    • How the 2026 crisis compares to 2022
    • The North Sea’s response will be Norway-driven
    • Does Norway have capacity to produce more in 2026?
    • The UK will find it harder to respond
    • Near-term options to increase supply
    • 1. Maintenance
    • 2. Debottlenecking
    • 3. Diverting gas from in-field use to sales
    • 3 more item(s)...

Tables and charts

This report includes the following images and tables:

    Monthly Brent oil prices (left) and NBP & TTF gas prices (right) 2020-presentEurope crude oil production*Europe gas production*
    The 2022 crisis: y-o-y change in liquids production from onstream fieldsThe 2022 crisis: y-o-y change in gas production from onstream fieldsNorway gas pipeline exports and maintenance scheduleNon-sales gas volumes in Norway and percentage of wellhead volumesThe 2022 crisis: y-o-y upstream capital expenditure change (real terms, excludes decommissioning)Hedging positions by select North Sea operators in 2026

What's included

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    How might sustained higher prices impact North Sea output?

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