Operator Statoil has proven gas and condensate in an area near the Gullfaks field in the North Sea.
Exploration well 34/10-45 in production licence 050B was drilled from the Gullfaks B platform to an area west of the Gullfaks field. The well track is 5.5 kilometres. A sidetrack was also drilled 250 metres towards the south from the first well. The wells were drilled to a total vertical depth of 2,200 metres, terminating in late Jurassic sandstones.
Arild Hesjedal, sector manager in Exploration & Production Norway reports that gas and condensate were proven in both wells in what is assumed to be Cretaceous rocks.
“No previous finds have been made in reservoirs of this age in this particular area," says Mr Hesjedal. "The find is therefore interesting and represents new opportunities.”
Since the well was drilled from the Gullfaks B platform it will be able to come on stream immediately.
“The experience from this production will provide important information about the size of the find and its commercial value,” adds Mr Hesjedal.
The licensees in production licence 050B are Statoil (61 per cent), Norsk Hydro (9 per cent) and Petoro (30 per cent).