This week!
Exploration Revived 2025

Tim is a geoscientist from the UK working in Equinor with a background in the tectonics, sedimentology and stratigraphy of rift basins. He completed a PhD at the University of Leeds, UK in 2020 researching deltaic and deep-water sedimentary systems in the Corinth Rift, Greece. Following this he moved to the University of Bergen as a postdoctoral researcher continuing research on rift basins at outcrop (Corinth Rift) and in the subsurface across several areas of the NCS before joining Equinor in Bergen in June 2024. He currently works across near field exploration and research in the North Sea and Norwegian Sea.

Geir Helgesen has been in Statoil/Equinor since 1993. He is a Sedimentologist and is part of Leading Professional and Exploration & Production International.

Dora Marín has a MSc in petroleum geoscience and a PhD in geology from the University of Stavanger. She is a principal geoscientist at Vår Energi. Dora has a mixed academic and industry experience, and she has worked in different tectonic settings internationally. Her main interest is to use subsurface data to solve problems related to basin evolution, tectonics and sedimentation, regional geology and hydrocarbon exploration.

Alessio Tagliaferri obtained a M.Sc. in geology and a Ph.D. in clastic sedimentology from the University of Parma (Italy). In 2016 joined Eni, working in several exploration and production projects in both Milan HQ and abroad subsidiaries. In 2022 obtained an assignment at Vår Energi as principal geoscientist. His experience spans from academic research to industry and is mostly on sedimentary geology and its integration with other disciplines, from new venture to exploration and production projects.

Zoë Adele Cumberpatch, is a Sedimentologist-turned-Petrophysicist from the UK. She earned a BSc. in Geology from the University of Leeds, followed by an MSc. in Petroleum Geoscience at Imperial College London and a PhD in Deep Water Sedimentology and Salt Tectonics from the University of Manchester. Since joining Equinor in 2021, Zoë has worked as a Petrophysicist in the Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea Deep Water, focusing on exploration projects and operational well follow-up. When not geologising, she can usually be found traveling, practicing aerial gymnastics, or, begrudgingly, supporting Manchester United.

- PhD in Sedimentology from University of Oslo, Norway.
- 15 years work experience in exploration department in Det Norske ASA and Aker BP ASA.

She was hired as an Assistant director in 2021. Before this, she had more than 20 years of experience from Equinor, including as Director of exploration for the Norwegian and UK shelf. She has led multiple departments within exploration and specialist functions, and has held various positions within subsurface and geology throughout the value chain in Equinor. Kjersti holds the equivalent of a master's degree in geology from the University of Bergen.

Eva Andrea Myrlund is a true Harstad native, having spent most of her life there—except for six years in Bergen, where she earned a Cand. Scient. degree in Structural Geology from the University of Bergen in 2004. Following her studies, she joined Equinor and has since been working in NCS exploration from the Harstad office. While initially exploring the Barents Sea, she has shifted her focus over the past 15 years towards exploration activities across the Norwegian Sea. Her current endeavors concentrate on gas exploration in the deep waters of the Norwegian Sea, particularly in the Vøring Basin.

- Started Aug 2024 - Principal Geologist, Equinor, Bergen – in Regional Value Capture (exploration) working in Møre Basin and the Norwegian northern North Sea
- 2017-2024 – Senior Geophysicist, VBER, Oslo – Worked mainly on the Møre, Vøring and Faroe-Shetland basins with TGS
- 2015-2017 – Postdoc, Oxford University – Worked on fluid flow features in the Vøring Basin with Shell support
- PhD Cardiff University (2015) on volcanics in seismic data
- MSci degree, Durham University in Geology and Physics (2010)

Arnaud was educated as geophysicist at Nancy and Strasbourg universities before working for Total in Paris and Nigeria from 2006. Moving to Norway in 2012, he has enjoyed working with a lot of good people on interesting projects in exploration, field development and drilling operations for various NCS operators. He’s currently continuing the learning journey with Equinor on the Martin Linge field.

Iver holds a Masters degree in Geohpysics from NTNU in 2004. Since he joined Statoil in 2005 . He have been working in several companies in different roles. Spanning production, development and exploration work. Now he is working with exploration in Northern North Sea / Regional and Access Team in Harbour Energy Norge.

Graduated from University of Bergen in 2014 and has spent the last 10 years in the Lundin and Vår Energi exploration department. Passionate about geology and happy to be able to focus work-time and effort on the Permian deposits in the Barents Sea. Does a significant amount of volunteer-work for NPF and Tekna, and is a mother to two little girls, a girlfriend and owns a horse and 5/76 snails in one of her daughters 3 aquariums.

Dr. Scient. in Marine Geology from the University of Bergen in 2003, with focus on the Quaternary section of the Norwegian continental margin. Held Post Doc and researcher positions at the University of Bergen from 2003 to 2008. Has been in Equinor since 2009, working as geologist in Petec and as explorationist in the Northern North Sea.

Ross Grant is a principal geologist in Equinor Harstad who has been working exploration projects in the Norwegian Sea. He previously gained experience from working international exploration projects for Equinor out of Oslo following the conclusion of his PhD studies in 2018 at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. Outside of work Ross enjoys being outdoors snowboarding, running, and hiking, along with travelling the world with his petrophysical princess.

Olav Kvamme Leirfall has a M.Sc in Petroleumtechnology and applied geophysics. He has worked in PGS as a project supervisor from 1999 to 2006 and since 2006 in Equinor on G&G projects on every continent towards research, exploration & production. He currently works as a Lead geophysicist in Equinor.

Bjørn Terje Oftedal has a M.Sc in Geology from University of Oslo. He has worked in Equinor since 2004 doing research, exploration & production. Bjørn has worked within several basin but is most familiar with the stratigraphy in the Norwegian sea. He currently works as a Lead Geologist at the Equinor Research Center in Trondheim.

Torbjørn Fjeld holds an MSc in Petroleum Geosciences from the University of Stavanger (2014), including two years at the University of Calgary. He began his career at Skagen44 in 2014 and joined DNO in late 2019. He has extensive experience in exploration across the Barents Sea, Norwegian Sea, and North Sea, working on both operated and non-operated licenses as well as licensing rounds. In 2023, he joined the Southern North Sea team, focusing on the PL1086 license and the planning and operation of the 2/6-7 S well.

2010, Master in Petroleum Geology and Geophysics from the University of Oslo
2011 – 2013, Geologist in Fugro Multi Client Services and CGG,
2013 – present, Geologist in Idemitsu and Inpex Idemitsu Norge.
Worked on exploration across the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS)
License work in the Northern North Sea and the Barents Sea.
Since 2018 focused on the Måløy Slope and the Agat play, representing IIN in licenses and conducted APA work.
Worked on PL 636 since 2018, where Duva was put into production in 2021

Received M.Sc (2014) in geoscience from NTNU. Previously worked for Searcher Geoscience and ConocoPhillips, before joining Aker BP in 2018. Since joining Aker BP, mainly been working with exploration in the Northern North Sea.

Sverre Planke is the CEO of Volcanic Basin Energy Research as (VBER) and a Professor II at the Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, Norway. He holds a B.Sc. in geological engineering (1985) and a M.Sc. in geophysics (1987), both from the University of Utah, and a Ph.D. in geology (1993) from the University of Oslo. Sverre is a co-founder of VBER (1999) and P-Cable 3D Seismic (2007). His research focus is on the processes and structure of volcanic rifted margins and volcanic basins based on integrated geological, geophysical, and theoretical methods, and he has co-published more than 190 papers and 3 patents with a GoogleScholar h-index of 67 and >15,500 citations.

Pablo Borghi has over 17 years of international experience in oil and gas exploration and field development. He has worked with Repsol, YPF, Wintershall/Wintershall Dea, and is currently a Senior Geophysicist at Harbour Energy. Throughout his career, he has led and contributed to the generation of multiple prospects and the execution of exploration and development projects across diverse basins, including the Norwegian Sea, North Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and several Argentinean basins.

His research and findings have been published in industry-leading journals such as The Leading Edge and First Break, as well as academic publications including Tectonophysics, Journal of Geodynamics, and Gondwana Research. A geologist by background, he holds postgraduate diplomas in Structural Geology, Tectonics, Oil and Gas Exploration and Seismic Interpretation. He is currently pursuing a PhD studying the relation between tectonics and foreland basins configuration.