The West Alpha drilling rig has started drilling an exploration and appraisal well on the Gudrun field in the North Sea.
âThe purpose is to prove sufficient amounts of oil, gas and condensate to develop the Gudrun find,â says Lars Jan Jaarvik, exploration manager for the Troll/Sleipner area.
The find has been localised in block 15/3, about 45 kilometres north of the Sleipner East field.
Gudrun was found through two exploration wells drilled in 1975 and 1979, when oil, gas and condensate were proven. The reservoir turned out to be complicated with high pressure and high temperature, and the reserves were not sufficiently quantified.
Well 15/3-7 is a project in cooperation between the licensees in production licences 025 and 187. Statoil is the operator in PL 025, and is also operator for the drilling. BP has joined as a new partner in PL 025 and it is also the operator in PL 187.
The well is to be drilled to a total depth of 4,800 metres. Middle and Upper Jurassic sandstone intervals will be assessed. The operations are planned to be completed at the beginning of August.
Statoil has a 46.8 per cent share in PL 025, BP has 25 per cent, TotalFinaElf has 18.2 per cent and Norsk Hydro has 10 per cent.