Oil and gas have been proven on the Gudrun structure in the Sleipner area of the North Sea by operator Statoil.
The results from appraisal well 15/3-8 confirm the estimates of Statoil that the Gudrun structure contains at least 150 million barrels of recoverable oil equivalent.
Oil, gas and condensate have earlier been proven in the structure. The appraisal well was drilled to find out if there were enough hydrocarbons in Gudrun to develop the structure.
"Data from the well confirms that the Gudrun discovery is substantial," says Lars Jan Jaarvik, exploration manager for Troll/Sleipner. "Statoil is now looking at various development alternatives."
Gudrun can be developed with a platform or a subsea solution. Production can be transported to a Norwegian or UK installation for further processing and export. This will be clarified later in connection with the development plans.
The Gudrun structure is located in production licence 025, some 40 kilometres north of the Sleipner area and 13 kilometres east of the border between the Norwegian and UK sectors of the North Sea.
The well was drilled by the Transocean Leader rig in 109 metres of water to a total depth of 4,570 metres below sea level, terminating in late Jurassic sediments. The well will be permanently plugged.
Oil and gas were proven in late Jurassic sands. Statoil has completed two successful productions tests, both with a maximum production rate of between 6,000 and 7,000 barrels of oil equivalent (1,000-1,200 cubic metres) per day through a 3/4 inch nozzle opening.
The Transocean Leader is moving to the Skinfaks and Rimfaks fields in the North Sea to drill production wells.
Statoil has a 46.8 per cent interest in production licence 025. The other licensees are Marathon with 28.2 per cent, Gaz de France with 12.5 per cent and BP with 12.5 per cent.