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Gas discovery in the Norwegian Sea

May 14, 2010, 10:11 CEST
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”This again shows how prospective this area is,” says Geir Richardsen, head of Statoil’s exploration of infrastructure-led areas in the Norwegian Sea.
 
The gas deposit was proven through the drilling of exploration well 6407/2-6 S, some five kilometres north of the Mikkel field and 200 kilometres north of Kristiansund.

Bilde

Geir Richardsen, head of Statoil’s exploration of infrastructure-led areas in the Norwegian Sea. (Photo: Harald Pettersen)

The well confirmed the existence of gas with a small oil column in the Tilje formation. 

Evaluated for development
Extensive data acquisition and sampling are now being performed. Preliminary estimations of the size of the gas discovery suggest between 2 and 4 million standard cubic metres of recoverable oil equivalent reserves.

“This is a relatively small, but still commercial gas discovery. We are now planning the next steps in this interesting area,” the exploration manager explains. 

The licensees in the exploration licence will consider various development solutions producing the discovery towards existing infrastructure on the Åsgard field. 

The well is the first exploration well in the Statoil-operated production licence 473 awarded in 2007. The drilling is now completed and the well will be permanently plugged and abandoned.

Exploration well 6407/2-6 S
  • Drilled by Statoil, the operator of production licence 473
  • The purpose was to establish the existence of hydrocarbons in Early Jurassic reservoir in the Tilje formation
  • Established mainly gas and a small oil column in the Tilje formation
  • Drilled in 253 metres of water to a vertical depth of 3,166 metres, completed in the Lower Jurassic Åre formation
  • The drilling was performed by the  Ocean Vanguard drilling unit, which will now have a planned yard stay onshore