#NCSSTRATEGY
KEEP EXPLORING
19-20 November 2025 // ncs-strategy.no
19-20 November 2025 // ncs-strategy.no
Stavanger / Scandic Forus
About
Oil companies on the NCS present exploration plans and strategies for 2026.
Europe is facing an energy crisis of unknown proportions, and energy rationing is likely to become reality across Europe this winter. How is the Norwegian Oil & Gas industry responding to this new reality?
For whom?
NCS Exploration Strategy is for anyone curious about the future of exploration on the NCS. The conference has never been more relevant than this year.
Who participates? Authorities, oil companies, service companies, and consulting companies, financial advisors, explorationists, business developers, and energy experts.
Why?
To provide a broader insight into short- and long-term exploration on the NCS and how companies build their portfolios in order to maximize reserves and position their companies to respond to the fluctuating oil price and outside pressure.
Main Sponsors
Sponsors
Exhibitors
Organized by
Registration
Please contact Ingvild Ryggen Carstens, events@geopublishing.no, for information about pricing for start-ups, students, and out-of-work professionals.
Terms & Conditions:
GeoPublishing AS reserve the right to alter the program. Substitutions to your registration may be made at any time by contacting the organizers in writing on events@geopublishing.no.
Accommodation
Scandic Forus Stavanger
NB! Available rooms from 17-21 November
NOK 1 735 + VAT,- per night including breakfast
Location
Bjødnabeen 2
4033 Stavanger
+47 21 61 48 00
Program
DAY I
Session I
Moderator: Eilif T. Ertresvåg, Exploration Manager Access & BD at Aker BP
Welcome
09:00 Ingvild Ryggen Carstens, Publisher & General Manager at GeoPublishing
Welcome
09:00 Ingvild Ryggen Carstens, Publisher & General Manager at GeoPublishing
Global exploration pulse: where does Norway stand?
09:05
Alyson Harding, Technical Manager
Stephen Coomber, Senior Analyst
Westwood Global Energy
A spotlight on E&P company targets – can Norwegian exploration deliver?
09:25 Lauren McCallum, Energy Analyst - Europe at Welligence
Session II
Moderator: Eilif T. Ertresvåg, Exploration Manager Access & BD at Aker BP
JAPEX Norge
10:00
Alex Stuart, Senior Geologist
Masami Kobayashi, Senior Geophysicist
INPEX Idemitsu
10:20 Tone Merete Øksenvåg, Exploration Manger
Coffee Break
10:40
Panel I: How do we design and plan “the best” exploration well?
11:10
Moderator: Henk Kombrink, Editor in Chief at GEO EXPRO
Luca Dragonetti, SVP Exploration at Vår Energi
Linda Aasum Burton, VP Subsurface at Equinor
Kjell Martin Edin, Advanced Geologist Well Delivery at Aker BP
TBA
Lunch
11:55
Session III
Moderator: Kari Lokna, Geologist at the Norwegian Offshore Directorate
OKEA
12:55 Morten Krogh, VP Exploration
Lime Petroleum
13:15
Lars Hübert, CEO
TBA
13:35
TBA
M Vest Energy
13:55 Susanne M Sperrevik, COO
Coffee Break
14:15
Panel II: Cost/field development picture: Small field development
14:45
Moderator: Anders Wittemann
Stein Erlend Skei, VP Project & Engineering at Harbour
Therese Schistad Haaland, Senior Manager Subsurface Field Development/Early Phase, Equinor
Regina Hermelin, Head of Projects at DNO Norge
Coffee Break
15:30
Session IV
Moderator: Luca Dragonetti, SVP Exploration at Vår Energi
TotalEnergies
16:00 Aurore Pichon, Europe Area Exploration Manager
Equinor
16:20 Mike Serink, VP Exploration & Production - Norwegian Sea & Barents Sea
Aker BP - Omega Alfa Discovery
16:40 Ivar Frøland Osvoll, Exploration Manager Alvheim & Yggdrasil
End Day I
17:00
Conference Dinner
19:00 - Aperitif
20:00 - Dinner
DAY II
Session IV
Moderator: Kate Langaker, Prospect Maturation Manager at Harbour Energy
WEPC
08:30 Anders Wittemann, Analyst
Ministry of Energy
08:50 Lars Erik Aamot, Director General
From Ballots to Barrels: What Lies Ahead for the NCS
09:10 Anders Høgalmen, Head of Public Affairs at Offshore Norge
Coffee Break
09:30
How Norwegian oil and gas make the world a better place
10:00 Øystein Sjølie, Economist and profiled writer on energy and climate issues
Sjølie published the book "Oljeboka" ('The Oil Book') last year. The book contains a detailed discussion of both the threats of climate change and the advantages fossil fuels give us. He has also written extensively on these issues in Norwegian media the six last years. He is former assistant professor at the Inland University.
Panel III: Regulatory / Political framework
10:30
Moderator: Anders Wittemann
Panelists:
Lars Erik Aamot
Anders Høgalmen
Øystein Sjølie
Lunch
11:15
Session V
Moderator: Linda Aasum Burton, VP Subsurface at Equinor
ORLEN
12:15 Chris Dart, Exploration Director
DNO Norge
12:35 Laila Elisabeth Pedersen, Head of Exploration North Sea
Harbour
12:55 Arild Kjeldstad, Head of Exploration
Coffee Break
13:15
Session VI
Moderator: Luca Dragonetti, SVP Exploration at Vår Energi
Predictive Performance in UKCS Exploration; a 10-year look back
14:00 Jon Seedhouse, Senior Geoscientist at North Sea Transition Authority
Exploration and its wider benefits: Creating value beyond resources - and NCS competition in exploration
14:20 Petter Osmundsen, Professor at the University of Stavanger
Changing player picture on the NCS – Impact on Exploration?
14:40 Kasper Lislevand, Economist and Data Analyst at Sokkeldirektoratet
Panel IV: “Exploration Strategies or Hidden Agendas”: The role of explorers on the NCS; from large co’s to the small co’s
15:15
Moderator: Henk Kombrink, Editor in Chief at GEO EXPRO Magazine
Tore Forthun, Senior Manager Subsurface - Exploration Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea at Equinor
Elisabeth Femsteinevik, Exploration & Subsurface Manager at DNO Norge
Olav Antonio Blaich, VP Exploration at Aker BP
Roy Davies, VP President Exploration & Subsurface at Harbour Energy
Tone Merete Øksenvåg, Exploration Manger
End Day II
16:00
Program Committee
KARI LOKNA
LINDA AASUM BURTON
Kate Langaker
Luca Dragonetti
Eilif T. Ertresvåg
Vaka Antonsdottir
Anders Wittemann
Ingvild Ryggen Carstens
Media partners
