Alve reserves upgraded

Proven reserves of gas and condensate in Statoil’s Alve discovery in the Norwegian Sea have been upgraded following the completion of an appraisal well.

This find lies 10 kilometres south-west of the group’s Norne development.

The 6507/3-4 appraisal was drilled in 372 metres of water to a total measured depth of 4,092 metres below sea level and terminated in early Jurassic rocks.

Cores were taken during the drilling operation, which lasted for 47 days, and extensive well logging was carried out.

“It’s too early to say anything about the size of recoverable reserves proven so far in Alve,” says Roger Inge Johansen, sector manager in the exploration Norway cluster for Halten/Nordland.

“We’ll be evaluating all the information obtained from this well to clarify the potential of the discovery.”

Alve will primarily be assessed for a tie-back to the Norne production ship, but this will depend on its size. Statoil also intends to evaluate another appraisal well.

When Alve was proven in 1990, it put the group on the track of the Norne discovery.

The present well was drilled from the West Navigator drill ship, which left the location yesterday, 29 April, to spud a wildcat on the Linerle prospect 20 kilometres north-east of Norne.