More North Sea drilling ops on Eni and ONE-Dyas’ Dutch agenda

May 18, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

The Netherlands-based exploration and production player ONE-Dyas and Italy’s energy giant Eni are expected to undertake more offshore drilling activities in the Dutch sector of the North Sea before the year ends.

N05-A platform in the North Sea; Source: One-Dyas

Tenaz Energy, which holds 33.3% working interest in the N05-A pool, part of the so-called Gateway to the Ems (GEMS) area, explained that production from the N05-A-01 well continued during the first quarter of 2026 at a stable gross production rate of 74 million cubic feet per day (cf/d), while the operator, ONE-Dyas, finished drilling the first development well, N05-A-03, and begun production in Q2 2026 at a stabilized production rate of 40 million cf/d.

The company confirmed the start of gas production from the second production well on the N05-A platform in April 2026. While the first production well produced approximately 700 million cubic meters of natural gas per year, the commissioning of the second production well increased annual gas production to around 1 billion cubic meters per year, as a further step toward fully utilizing the platform’s production capacity of 2 billion cubic meters per year.

This corresponds to 7% of the Netherlands’ and 2.5% of Germany’s gas demand. Given current drilling activities, the firm expects maximum production to be reached in the fourth quarter, before the onset of winter. The wider cross-border GEMS area, in which N05-A is located, has an estimated potential of about 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas, originating from several smaller fields that collectively contribute to a stable energy supply for both countries.

Chris de Ruyter van Steveninck, CEO of ONE-Dyas, commented: “By increasing production from N05-A, we are boosting the supply of locally produced natural gas with minimal emissions. This is precisely the aim of the Dutch small-field policy: to meet existing demand as much as possible with domestic natural gas. It is responsible, reliable, and serves as an important pillar for the energy transition.”

ONE-Dyas points out that the commissioning of the second well signals the shift from start-up to a phase of scaling up production, with additional gas resulting in less dependence on imported gas, a reliable contribution to the energy supply during the energy transition, use of existing North Sea infrastructure, all within current environmental and safety standards.

The N05-A platform is said to produce natural gas with virtually zero CO2 emissions, as it operates entirely on electricity from the nearby Riffgat offshore wind farm. Tenaz disclosed that drilling also commenced on the next development well, N05-A-02, during Q1 2026. Following completion of the well, the company expects ONE-Dyas to drill an extension well and an exploratory well from the platform during the second half of 2026.

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Meanwhile, Eni completed the drilling of the L10-M4, also known as Malachite, well at the L10 license, where Tenaz has a 21.4% working interest. The well was tested at a rate of 14.5 million cf/d at a 1,755 psi flowing wellhead pressure during a seven-hour well test. The company elaborates that the L10 facility is being prepared to connect the well.

The drilling rig has been moved to another area in which Tenaz does not have an interest. Based on current planning, the firm expects a new sidetrack well to be executed by Eni on the K12 license late in the second half of 2026.

Tenaz plans to drill an additional horizontal, stimulated K17 well in the Dutch North Sea and then continue drilling operations elsewhere on its operated licenses; thus, it recently extended the contract for ADES’ Shelf Drilling Winner rig.