Norway: Det Norske Drills Duster in North Sea

Det norske oljeselskap ASA, operator of production licence 414, is in the process of concluding the drilling of wildcat well 25/6-4 S. The well is being drilled in the central part of the North Sea, about 20 km southeast of the Frøy field and 37 km northeast of the Heimdal field.

The primary exploration target for the well was to prove petroleum in Paleocene reservoir rocks (the Hermod formation). The secondary exploration target was to prove petroleum in Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks (the Brent group). The well encountered reservoir rocks with good reservoir quality, as expected. Data acquisition and sampling have been carried out, but both levels are water-bearing and the well has been classified as dry.

This is the first exploration well in production licence 414, which was awarded in APA 2006. Wildcat well 25/6-4 S was drilled to a vertical depth of 2738 metres below the sea surface, and was terminated in Middle Jurassic rocks (the Dunlin group). Water depth at the site is 114 metres. The well will now be permanently plugged and abandoned.

The well was drilled by the Songa Delta offshore drilling rig, which will proceed to production licence 418 in the northern part of the North Sea to drill wildcat well 35/9-7, where Wintershall Norge ASA is the operator.

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Offshore Energy Today Staff, February 13, 2012; Image1: Songa Offshore; Image2: Norwegian Petroleum Directorate