Rystad 表示，2020 年至 2024 年间，埃克森美孚、壳牌、雪佛龙、英国石油公司、TotalEnergies和埃尼集团每年平均支出总计70 亿美元，而上一时期的平均支出为100 亿美元。然而，尽管预算有限，前沿钻探仍然健康发展，特别是大西洋边缘、东地中海和亚洲的深水项目。去年，主要参与者获得了 112,000 平方公里的土地面积，比上一年增加了 20%。Rystad 指出，所有获奖区块均位于近海，其中 39% 位于陆架部分，28% 位于深水区，其余 33% 位于超深水区。

就全球勘探活动而言，Rystad Energy 预计，与 2023 年相比，今年深水和超深水探井数量将增加约 50 口，约占已钻探总量的 35% 左右。

“随着各大公司收紧金融腰带，他们正在谨慎地冒险进入更深的水域，并重新评估他们的前沿探索方法。虽然我们预计他们会评估和成熟他们的前沿领域，但我们也预计他们将继续专注于熟悉的领域” Rystad Energy 高级分析师桑托什·库马尔·布丹卡亚拉 (Santosh Kumar Budankayala)表示：“拥有成熟专业知识和现有基础设施的地区可以更快地实现货币化，风险更低。”

壳牌仍然是深水勘探和生产的主要参与者，今年计划开展重大项目，特别是在东南亚、非洲和美洲。英国石油公司还在非洲和美洲进行深水勘探。该公司计划在埃及钻探多口井，包括在Raven天然气田和凝析油田进行评估钻探，以及在西地中海King Mariout海上特许权进行预探勘探钻探。

雪佛龙和壳牌正在制定在苏里南海岸 42 号区块进行钻探的计划，该区块包含沃克碳酸盐岩勘探区，而壳牌则拥有阿根廷第一口海上超深水井 Argerich-1 30% 的非经营性股份。

ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, BP, TotalEnergies and Eni will have spent on average a combined US$7bn each year between 2020 and 2024, compared to an average of US$10bn in the previous period, says Rystad. However despite budget constraints, frontier drilling is healthy, particularly deepwater projects in the Atlantic Margin, Eastern Mediterranean and Asia. Last year 112,000 sq km in acreage was awarded to major players — an increase of 20% from the previous year. Rystad notes that all awarded blocks were offshore, with 39% in the shelf segment, 28% in deepwater and the remaining 33% in ultra-deepwater.

In terms of global exploration activity, Rystad Energy predicts approximately 50 more deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploratory wells this year compared to 2023, accounting for around 35% of total wills drilled.

"As majors tighten their financial belts, they're cautiously venturing into deeper waters and re-evaluating their approaches for frontier exploration. While we anticipate them to appraise and mature their frontier acreages, we also expect them to continue to focus on familiar territory — regions with established expertise and existing infrastructure that offer quicker monetisation with lower risks,” said Santosh Kumar Budankayala, senior analyst at Rystad Energy.

Shell remains a key player in deepwater exploration and production, with significant projects planned this year, particularly in Southeast Asia, Africa and the Americas. BP is also pursuing deepwater exploration in Africa and the Americas. The company aims to drill multiple wells in Egypt, including appraisal drilling at the Raven gas and condensate field, as well as wildcat exploration drilling in the King Mariout offshore concession in the Western Mediterranean.

Chevron and Shell are pursuing plans to drill off the coast of Suriname in Block 42, which contains the Walker carbonate prospect, while Shell has a 30% nonoperating stake in Argerich-1, Argentina’s first offshore ultra-deepwater well.