Oil and gas discovery just north of Norne

The proved recoverable resources are provisionally estimated at between 37 and 63 million barrels of oil.

The volume of associated and free gas is estimated at between 1-3 billion standard cubic metres of gas.

”I am pleased that we have made yet another discovery in the area north of the Norne field,” says Geir Richardsen, Statoil’s head of exploration for acreage close to the infrastructure in the Norwegian Sea.

Last year Statoil discovered oil on the Dompap prospect, which also lies north of the Norne field.

“These discoveries demonstrate that also the deeper, western parts of the Norne area remain prospectable. This may well have a bearing on our field longevity work,” says Richardsen.

Together with its partners the company will consider developing the discovery through a tie-in to Norne, where the storage and production ship Norne receives production from seabed templates.

Norne is also linked to the gas infrastructure on the continent by means of the pipeline systems Norne gas export and Åsgard transport via Kårstø in Rogaland.

The partners on the PL128 licence are: Statoil (operator, 63.95%), Petoro AS (24.55%) and ENI Norge AS (11.5%).

Facts Exploration well 6608/10-14 S on the PL128 licence proved oil in the Ile, Tofte and Åre formations and gas in the Melke formation. The well is number 24 in series on production licence 128, which was awarded during round 10B in 1986. The well was drilled to total vertical depth of 2 749 metres below sea level. It was concluded in the Åre formation in the lower Jurassic. Water depth in the area is 352 metres. Drilling was conducted from the drilling rig Ocean Vanguard. The well is now being plugged and abandoned.