Brent discovered

by Norwegian Petroleum Museum

The Brent field was found in the British sector of the North Sea during June 1971, close to the boundary with the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS).

— John Hollis at Statfjord A pointing to the Brent field on the British side of the shelf. Photo: Odd Noreger/Norwegian Petroleum Museum

It ranked as one of the largest petroleum discoveries made until then on the UK continental shelf, and the biggest in the northern North Sea.

It was long thought to extend onto the NCS. A number of companies accordingly campaigned to secure the adjacent Norwegian blocks 33/9 and 33/12, which were to yield the Statfjord discovery.

Shell, operator for Brent, believed that the oil-bearing strata in the reservoir could extend across the boundary and launched efforts to be awarded the two blocks.

The Norwegian government also wanted a rapid clarification on the NCS side to prevent Britain possibly producing resources which belonged to Norway. It accordingly initiated a process to award blocks 33/9 and 33/12.

Source

“Development planning of the Brent Field”. Journal of Petroleum Technology, volume 27, number 10.