The Shelf in 2005 - Exploration activities
12/01/2006 Twelve exploration wells were spudded in 2005, of which nine are wildcat wells and three are appraisal wells. Six new discoveries were made, three in the North Sea and three in the Norwegian Sea.
Even though the number of exploration wells was lower than the NPD had expected at the start of the year, the results are still considered good with discoveries in new areas and discoveries in new plays in mature areas. The resource growth from the exploration activities is in the range of 3-16 million Sm3 recoverable oil, and 39-119 billion Sm3 recoverable gas. Compared with 2004, this constitutes an increase in resource growth.
Norsk Hydro has proven a minor oil discovery in a Jurassic formation in wildcat well 35/11-13 just north of the Fram field in the North Sea. The discovery is located in an area with an existing infrastructure for hydrocarbon production. The possibilities of this being commercially viable are therefore considered to be good, confirming yet again that profitable discoveries can be made in the mature areas of the shelf.
Just south of this discovery in block 31/2, Norsk Hydro has struck oil in Middle Jurassic sandstone beneath the Troll field. The discovery was proven by deepening production well 31/2-11 H. This discovery was made in a little-explored play in the Troll area.
Furthermore, Norsk Hydro struck gas in the northernmost part of the North Sea in wildcat well 35/2-1. This gas discovery is located due west of the Agat discovery in a shallow sandstone reservoir. The well was completed at a depth of 687 meters below sea level. The well tested a new play and is the most shallow exploration target to be investigated on the Norwegian shelf so far.
Two new gas discoveries have been made in the deep water areas of the Norwegian Sea. Statoil has proven a minor gas discovery in wildcat well 6302/6-1 in Paleocene sandstone in the Møre basin, while Norsk Hydro has proven gas in wildcat well 6605/8-1 in the Vøring basin. This well was production tested. This well needs to be further appraised to determine the resource potential. Both discoveries are located in little-explored areas in the Norwegian Sea and are considered important to help improve our understanding of the geological development of these areas.
To the south of the Kristin field in the Norwegian Sea, Norske Shell has proven gas in wildcat well 6406/9-1. This discovery was made in sandstone dating from the Jurassic Age. An extensive collection of core samples and logs have been gathered, and two production tests were also carried out with good results. An appraisal well has been planned in 2006 to finally determine the size. This discovery is very interesting for the further development of this area of the Norwegian Sea.
New discoveries 2005 - Recoverable resources
|
Well |
Operator
|
Oil [million Sm3]
|
Gas [billion Sm3]
|
| 35/11-13
|
Norsk Hydro |
1-5 |
|
| 31/2 N- 11 H
|
Norsk Hydro |
2-10 |
|
| 35/2-1
|
Norsk Hydro |
|
14-19 |
| 6605/8-1
|
Norsk Hydro |
|
15-48 |
| 6302/6-1
|
Statoil |
|
1-3 |
|
6406/9-1 |
Norske Shell |
|
10-50 |
|
|
|
3-15 |
40 - 120 |
Contact in the NPD:
Eldbjørg Vaage Melberg, tel. +47 51 87 61 00
| 35/11-13
|
Norsk Hydro |
1-5 |
|
| 31/2 N- 11 H
|
Norsk Hydro |
2-10 |
|
| 35/2-1
|
Norsk Hydro |
|
14-19 |
| 6605/8-1
|
Norsk Hydro |
|
15-48 |
| 6302/6-1
|
Statoil |
|
1-3 |
|
6406/9-1 |
Norske Shell |
|
10-50 |
|
|
|
3-15 |
40 - 120 |
Updated: 29/01/2013