A wildcat drilled by Statoil on the Lerke prospect near its Norne field in the Norwegian Sea failed to encounter hydrocarbons in the main reservoir.
However, oil was found in other parts of this formation. Statoil plans to investigate its quantity and production properties over the coming six months.
That will establish whether these resources are commercially recoverable, reports Knut Chr Grindstad, exploration vice president for Halten/Nordland.
“We’re disappointed by this result,” admits Mr Grindstad, who is based at Statoil’s north Norwegian exploration office in Harstad.
“But we still believe that we can develop the other Norne satellites profitably with a subsea development tied back to the main field’s production ship.”
He emphasised that Statoil will go ahead with its plans to drill a wildcat on the Gråspett prospect west of Lerke.
The latter lies between the Svale and Stær discoveries, which were made in the spring of 2000 and the spring of 2002 respectively.
Deepsea Bergen drilled the 6608/10-9 well on Lerke to a total measured depth of 2,400 metres.
Statoil has a 40.45 per cent interest in the prospect, with Petoro, Norsk Hydro, Agip and Shell/Enterprise as its partners.