Total Finds Oil Near Visund Field

Total E&P Norge AS, operator of production licence 554, has completed drilling of appraisal well 34/6-3 S on the 34/6-2 S oil discovery and wildcat well 34/6-3 A.

The wells were drilled about 30 kilometres northeast of the Visund field in the northern North Sea.

Appraisal well 34/6-3 S is located 2 kilometres southwest of the 34/6-2 S discovery well. The objective of the well was to delineate the 34/6-2 S oil discovery made in the Cook formation in the Lower Jurassic in 2012. Before drilling of the appraisal well, the discovery was estimated at 6 million Sm³ recoverable oil. A secondary target was to prove petroleum in the Statfjord group in the Lower Jurassic, higher up on the structure than well 34/6-2 S.

Appraisal well 34/6-3 S proved a total gross oil column of 120 metres in the Cook formation. The reservoir quality is very good. The Statfjord group is dry. The oil/water contact was not encountered. Preliminary calculation of the size of the oil discovery is between 6 and 14 million Sm³ of recoverable oil.

Extensive data acquisition and sampling were carried out, including a successful formation test in the Cook formation. The well was tested with a stable production rate of 940 standard cubic metres (Sm³) of oil per flow day through a 24/64-inch nozzle opening, and with a maximum production rate of 1100 Sm³ oil per flow day through a 28/64-inch nozzle opening. The test showed good flow properties with stable flow pressure and low pressure decline, and consistent pressure build-up. The well produced oil with a gas-oil ratio of 19m³/m³. Extensive data analyses and studies have been started to confirm the resource estimate and to assess possible development solutions.

The objective of wildcat well 34/6-3 A was to prove petroleum in Early Jurassic reservoir rocks in a separate structure right next to the 34/6-2 S discovery. The secondary exploration target was to prove petroleum in the Statfjord group in the Lower Jurassic.

The well encountered a 12-metre net oil column in the Cook formation. The recoverable resources estimate is up to 0.5 million Sm³oil. The Statfjord group is dry. The well was terminated in the Statfjord group. Sampling and data acquisition were carried out. The well was not formation tested.

These are the third and fourth exploration wells in production licence 554, which was awarded in APA 2009.

Well 34/6-3 S was drilled to a measured depth of 4462 metres (3791 metres vertical depth below the sea surface) to the Statfjord group in the Early Jurassic. Well 34/6-3 A was drilled to a measured depth of 4019 metres (3724 metres vertical depth) under the sea surface.

Water depth is 381 metres. The wells will be permanently plugged and abandoned.

The wells were drilled by the Leiv Eiriksson semi-submersible drilling facility, which will now drill wildcat well 35/9-12 S in production licence 420 in the northeastern North Sea, where RWE Dea is the operator.