Norway: T-Rex Disappoints

Danish Maersk Oil has finished drilling the T-Rex prospect offshore Norway. The well, drilled in Production Licence 431 in the Norwegian Sea, discovered hydrocarbons but not in commercial quantities.

The well found thinner than expected oil-bearing sands of reservoir quality at two intervals in the Lower Cretaceous target horizons and was not tested for production. The well was drilled to a vertical depth of 4,157 metres below sea level using the Transocean Winner drilling rig, and will be permanently abandoned.

“While the result of T-Rex is disappointing, we have gathered a large amount of data that we will analyse to understand the wider implications and decide on further activities in the license,” said Morten Jeppesen, Managing Director of Maersk Oil in Norway.

The well is the first to be drilled in the license, which was awarded in the APA Licencing Round in 2006. Maersk Oil took over operatorship in 2009.

“Drilling operations in the Norwegian Sea this winter have been very demanding due to extreme weather conditions. Despite this, operations on T-Rex, which is Maersk Oil’s first operated well in Norway, have been conducted in a safe and efficient manner which gives us experience that we can build on in future exploration wells,” Jeppesen said.

Maersk Oil is operator of Production Licence 431 with 70% interest. Faroe Petroleum is partner with 30% interest. Maersk Oil will drill its next operated well at the Albert prospect in Production Licence 513 later in the year.

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Offshore Energy Today Staff, March 7, 2012; Image: Ptil