据普氏能源资讯2019年1月8日伦敦报道，全球著名咨询公司伍德麦肯兹周二表示，由于私营企业发挥越来越大的作用，北海石油行业今年的油气勘探钻井活动将出现复苏，而并购活动将达到健康水平。

伍德麦肯兹预测，英国今年的勘探钻井数量将有所上升，将有10至15口井需要钻探，高于去年的8口；挪威近海将有40口勘探井需要钻探，高于去年的26口，并将恢复到2014年油价下跌前的水平。

伍德麦肯兹说：“预算出现增加，而公司的投资组合充满在经济低迷时期成熟的远景。并购市场对资产的竞争将更加激烈，尤其是在挪威，因此通过钻头实现增长颇具吸引力。”

伍德麦肯兹表示，挪威国有油气巨头Equinor将率先行动，成为今年唯一一家在北海钻取多个探井的大型公司。Equinor预计将在挪威和英国各地钻取大约20口探井。Equinor曾表示，去年前9个月，该公司在全球共钻取了15口探井。

伍德麦肯兹还预测，大型企业——尤其是美国大型企业——将继续出售资产。

李峻 编译自 普氏能源资讯

原文如下：

Wood Mackenzie sees buoyant North Sea oil, gas exploration, M&A prospects

The North Sea oil industry is set for a recovery in exploration drilling and healthy levels of mergers and acquisitions this year, as privately-owned companies take a growing role, consultancy Wood Mackenzie said Tuesday.

Wood Mackenzie forecast an uptick in UK exploration drilling this year with 10-15 wells to be drilled, up from eight last year, and that 40 exploration wells would be drilled offshore Norway, up from 26 last year and a return to levels before the 2014 price downturn.

"Budgets are bigger and company portfolios are brimming with prospects matured through the downturn. The competition for assets in the M&A market will be fierce, particularly in Norway, so growth via the drill bit is attractive" it said.

Norway's state-controlled Equinor will lead the way, being the only major company to drill more than a handful of exploration wells in the North Sea this year, as it expects to drill around 20 across Norway and the UK, Wood Mackenzie said.

Equinor has said it drilled 15 exploration wells worldwide in the first nine months of last year.

Wood Mackenzie also forecast continued asset sales by major companies, particularly US majors.