This research includes drilling and well technology, reservoir modeling and simulation, enhanced oil recovery (EOR), CO2 storage, and plugging & abandonment of wells.
We have state-of-the-art petroleum laboratories and a test facility at the Ullrigg Test Centre, which is Norway’s only land-based full-scale drilling rig. OpenLab Drilling is our simulation tool for research, teaching, and demonstration of drilling technology. We have also established a test laboratory for plugging wells.
We host two research centers in petroleum:
- SFI DigiWells aims to accelerate the digital transformation of well-delivery processes
- The Centre for Sustainable Subsurface Resources (CSSR) aim is to develop methods for extracting petroleum reservoirs powered by renewable energy as well as sustainable reuse of drained fields.
We are partners in three research centers:
- SFI Offshore Mechatronics: researches developing processes that reduce the number of manual work processes offshore.
- SFI SWIPA with main activity within permanent well barriers and improved methods for plugging wells.
- NCS2030 – National Centre for Sustainable Subsurface Utilization of the Norwegian Continental Shelf, which focuses on energy-efficient multipurpose subsurface of the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
All research centers are assigned by the Research Council of Norway and run in close cooperation with industry partners.
Renewable forms of energy
The research includes offshore wind, hydrogen, battery, geothermal energy, CO2 storage, and the design and development of new energy systems that integrate new forms of energy with distribution systems, storage systems, and consumers.
We focus on hydrogen
NORCE is well underway in developing expertise in the field of hydrogen. We head the national hydrogen center, HyValue, which will contribute to faster decarbonization. The center will develop knowledge, methodology, and innovative solutions for hydrogen energy carriers.
Carbon storage
NORCE has an experienced and internationally recognized staff on carbon storage dedicated research. We hold state-of-the-art infrastructure both physical laboratories and specialized software and decision workflows to solve the acute challenges within CCS.
NORCE performs dedicated experimental research on CO2 injectivity and increased understanding of CO2 trapping mechanisms, and NORCE is a large contributor to model and simulator development for subsurface simulation of CO2 injection and storage.
We have led the national FME Center SUCCESS (2009-2017). Also, in the current national petroleum centers, carbon storage is an important part of many research questions. We lead the National Centre for Sustainable Subsurface Resources (CSSR) and are partner of the NCS 2030 Petroleum center.
