Exploration well 30/11-7 was drilled by the West Alpha semi-submersible drilling unit in production licence PL 362/PL035B.
The purpose of the drilling was to prove hydrocarbons in the Brent group, in Middle Jurassic rocks near the abandoned Lille Frigg field.
Tom Dreyer
No hydrocarbons were found in the upper part of the Brent group which was the main target of the exploration well. But hydrocarbons in the form of gas/condensate were discovered in the lower parts of the Brent group.
"It is gratifying that we have again proven hydrocarbons in these areas, where finds can quickly be brought on stream," says Tom Dreyer, vice president for infrastructure-led exploration North Sea in Exploration & Production Norway.
"We are now considering drilling a sidetrack well to delineate the extent of the find."
The well has proven recoverable volumes in the region of 6-19 million barrels of oil equivalent.
The well was drilled to a vertical depth of 4,067 metres below sea level in 111 metres of water. Drilling was terminated in Early Jurassic rocks.
After extensive gathering of data and core samples, the well has been temporarily plugged and abandoned.
The licensees in PL362 are: StatoilHydro - operator (50%), Svenska Petroleum Exploration (25%), Det norske oljeselskap (15%) and Dana Petroleum Norway (10%).