Norway: First Oil from Draupne May be Produced in 2015

The partnerships in Draupne-, Hanz- and West Cable licenses have submitted an application for an environmental impact assessment for these discoveries. Draupne, with the smaller discoveries at Hanz and West Cable, is one of the major discoveries on the Norwegian shelf in recent years. The first oil from Draupne can be produced in 2015.

The application for the environmental impact assessment has now been sent to a variety of entities.

The development on Draupne is important for Det norske as an operator on the Norwegain Shelf. Draupne will bring the company closer to the goal of a ten-fold increase of production within five years.

Det norske is the operator for the three discoveries at Draupne, Hanz and West Cable. The discoveries are made in production licenses PL001B, 028B and 242 in the North Sea. These are three separate petroleum deposits, all in the formation known as the southern Viking Graben. The partnership is the same in all the licenses; Det norske as operator with a 35 percent stake, Statoil 50 percent and Bayerngas Norway 15 percent.

The fairy-tale at Draupne

Det norske made the discovery on Draupne in 2008, with the well 16/1-9. The well was drilled with the drilling rig Bredford Dolphin. Oil and gas were encountered in a 44 meters thick sandstone of Middle Jurassic age.

In 2010, a new well was drilled. The well was also production tested. Based on the results of the test, Det norske estimates that the production wells could give an average of about 12,000 barrels per day per well. The oil was light and of good quality.

In May 2010 a sidetrack was drilled to determine the size of the discovery. The drilling showed that the column extends deeper than first estimated. The total oil and gas column Draupne is around 150 meters, of which about 90 meters is gas.

The two smaller discoveries at Hanz and West Cable were made respectively in 1997 and 2004. The discovery and development of Draupne will make a development of these discoveries possible.

About Det norske:

Det norske is the second-largest operating company on the Norwegian Continental Shelf both considering number of operatorships, exploration- and drilling activity. The aggressive exploration program is the largest an independent Norwegian company has ever conducted on the NCS. Det norske runs its activities in a safe and responsible manner in close cooperation with the authorities. Det norske will in 2011 participate in over 10 drilling operations as partner or as operator.

Det norske currently employs a staff of around 200. The company`s registered office is located in Trondheim. The company also has offices in Oslo, Harstad, and Stavanger. Det norske is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (DETNOR).

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Source: Det Norske  , March 16,, 2011;