As operator of exploration and production license 090, Hydro has made a small oil find on the H-North Prospect in the North Sea.
“The find on H-North can provide valuable additional resources to fields in the Fram area. The find confirms Hydro exploration successes in this area over the past few years,” says Tore Lilloe-Olsen, exploration manager in the Development Norway sector of Hydro’s Oil & Energy business area.
Both the Peon and Astero finds were discovered in this area in 2005 and proven to contain recoverable oil. Development concepts for the finds are presently being worked on.
Exploration well 35/11-15S with sidetrack 35/11-15ST5 were drilled to a respective total depth of 3,177 and 2,961 meters below the surface of the sea, and ended in rock dating from the Upper Jurassic period. Oil was found in both the main well and the sidetrack. The main well also contains gas.
The wells were not production tested, but there has been significant data collection and samples taken. The wells are now permanently plugged and abandoned. A total of 14 exploration wells have been drilled in license 090.
The wells were drilled by the semi-submersible drilling rig Transocean Winner at a water depth of 363 meters. Transocean Winner will now proceed to drill an exploration well on exploration and production license PL 107 on the Njord field, also operated by Hydro, on the Haltenbanken in the Norwegian Sea.
License holders in 090
- Norsk Hydro Produksjon AS (operator) - 25 %
- ExxonMobil Production Norway AS - 25 %
- Statoil ASA - 20 %
- Idemitsu Petroleum Norge AS - 15 %
- Gaz de France Norge AS - 15 %