Europe is feverishly searching for gas on the continent, pressured by geopolitical changes and the unpredictable behavior of the US. Where are the deposits that will produce the first new gases?

Amid intense geopolitical changes, exacerbated by US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies – and more – Europe is looking to develop untapped natural gas reserves in regions such as Cyprus, Romania, Norway and Greece. The aim is to increase energy security and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, according to the trade press.

Europe’s energy landscape is at a crossroads. Between the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the new uncertainty triggered by US President Donald Trump’s shifting alliances and tariff barrage, Europe’s dependence on unstable foreign energy suppliers is becoming a major issue, writes the Greek portal Energy Press.

Russia’s natural gas exports have been reduced since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and now the behavior of the United States, a key supplier of liquefied natural gas, is adding another uncertainty. Under President Donald Trump, shifting alliances and a wave of aggressive tariffs threaten the steady imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) that Europe has relied on since the start of the war.

And with renewables still years away from dominating the energy landscape, natural gas remains a key fuel for the green transition.

In this context, Oilprice.com outlines the five largest untapped natural gas fields in Europe, on a map of strong Greek interest.

Aphrodite (Cyprus): Reserves: 0.1 to 0.17 trillion cubic meters

Off the coast of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean, the Aphrodite field began development in 2011 by Chevron, Noble Energy and Shell. Industry forecasts call for first gas by 2027, but development progress often stalls amid challenges. Turkey disputes Cyprus’ maritime claims, raising geopolitical risks as deep-sea exploration requires huge investment. Cyprus is considering a gas pipeline to Egypt or the development of a liquefied natural gas facility, but there are still funding and infrastructure gaps. For southern Europe, the field represents a vital supply option, provided it can overcome delays.

Neptun Deep (Romania): Reserves: 0.1 trillion cubic meters

Romania’s Neptun Deep field is located in the Black Sea, comprising the Domino and Pelican South blocks discovered in 2012 by OMV Petrom and ExxonMobil. ExxonMobil withdrew in 2022, leaving OMV Petrom and national company Romgaz to develop the project, which is expected to start production by 2027 at the latest. Spurred by the Ukraine crisis, Romania sees this as a boost to domestic and regional supply, but the cost exceeds 4 billion euros and offshore logistics complicate the program. With Central Europe in its sights, Neptun Deep relies on securing financing and stable and predictable regulation

Dvalin North (Norway): Reserves: 0.00561 to 0.0119 trillion cubic meters

Norway’s Dvalin North, discovered in 2021 by Wintershall Dea, is located in the Norwegian Sea, with production scheduled for the late 2020s. Its smaller size benefits from Norway’s established energy framework, tied to the nearby Dvalin field to contain costs. Arctic conditions and the environment dictate slow development, but Norway’s reliability as a supplier keeps the investment viable. Although modest, Dvalin North adds a credible piece to Europe’s natural gas puzzle.

Calypso (Cyprus): Reserves: 0.06 to 0.08 trillion cubic meters

Calypso came to light in 2018 through Eni and TotalEnergies, with reserves still being evaluated. There is no production timeline as it all depends on further drilling. As with Venus, it is struggling with Turkish objections and the cost of deepwater. Cyprus hopes to combine it with Aphrodite. If confirmed, Calypso could cement the Mediterranean’s role in Europe’s natural gas future.

Combined, the Aphrodite, Neptun Deep, Dvalin North, Calypso and Kronos fields have 0.3 to 0.4 trillion cubic meters of untapped gas.

This number is close to the remaining idle capacity of the Groningen field in the Netherlands, which was the largest field in Europe, whose production was stopped amid seismic activity, for example.

These fields could power Europe as it transitions to renewables, and Aphrodite and Neptun Deep, each exceeding 0.1 trillion cubic meters, are close to production by 2027. Dvalin North and Kronos offer a smaller boost, while data is still awaited for Calypso.

And while there are certainly challenges ahead – Cyprus faces geopolitical frictions and Romania grapples with environmental costs and regulations, integrated with efficiency and clean technology, these gases could displace dirtier fuels, easing Europe’s transition to a sustainable horizon, according to the same source. Speed ​​is critical – delays only prolong the continent’s energy dependence, the Greek portal also shows.