VNG in minor oil discovery in Boomerang well

VNG Norge AS has found oil in the Boomerang  exploration well, located in production licence 586, in the southern Norwegian Sea.

VNG Norge AS, operator of the production licence, is in the process of completing the drilling of wildcat wells 6406/12-4 S and 6406/12-4 A.

According to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD), well 6406/12-4 S was drilled approximately 33 kilometres south-west of the Njord field in the southern part of the Norwegian Sea and approx. 1.7 kilometres south-east of a discovery well 6406/12-3 S (Pil).

The primary exploration target of well 6406/12-4 S was to prove petroleum in Upper Jurassic sandstones in a southwestern segment, which is adjacent to the 6406/12-3 S discovery (Pil). The well encountered an approximately 590 metres thick unit of Upper Jurassic rocks, 20 metres of which of are sandstone (the Rogn formation) with good reservoir quality. Preliminary estimates of the size of the discovery range between two and five million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable oil equivalents. The licensees will consider the discovery in conjunction with other nearby discoveries as regards a possible future development.

The secondary exploration target was to prove petroleum in Upper Jurassic rocks (sandstone in the Intra Melke formation), the extent, thickness and properties of the reservoir rocks, as well as depth to hydrocarbon contacts. The well encountered 368 metres of sandstone in the Intra Melke formation of varying quality and with traces of oil.

The objective of well 6406/12-4 A was to prove petroleum in Upper Jurassic reservoir rocks (sandstone in the Intra Spekk and Intra Melke formations) in a southern segment adjacent to the 6406/12-3 S discovery (Pil). Well 6406/12-4 A encountered about 20 metres of Intra Spekk sandstone and 515 metres of reservoir rocks in the Intra Melke formation, both with poor reservoir properties. The reservoir contains only traces of hydrocarbons. The well was classified as dry.

Extensive data acquisition and sampling have been carried out. These are the fourth and fifth wells to be drilled in production licence 586, which was awarded in APA 2010.

6406/12-4 S was drilled to measured and vertical depths of 4318 and 3832 metres below sea level respectively, and was terminated in the Melke formation in the Upper Jurassic.

6406/12-4 A was drilled to measured and vertical depths of 4058 and 3799 metres below sea level respectively, and was terminated in the Melke formation in the Jurassic. Water depth at the site is 319 metres.

The NPD says the wells will now be permanently plugged and abandoned.

Wells 6406/12-4 S and A were drilled by Transocean Arctic semi-submersible drilling rig which now will drill 6406/12-5 S in a northern segment adjacent to the discovery 6406/12-3 S (Pil).

Other partners in the production licence 586 are Spike Exploration Holding AS (30 per cent), Faroe Petroleum Norge AS (25 per cent) and Rocksource Exploration Norway AS (15 per cent).

Graham Stewart, Chief Executive of Faroe Petroleum, commented: “We are pleased to announce the results from the Boomerang well, which adds further resources to the Pil area from a new reservoir. This appraisal and exploration well has provided a significant amount of important data and again proven how prospective the Pil area is.

“While we carry out further evaluation, the exploration campaign continues with drilling of the Blink prospect, due to spud shortly.  Blink is an exciting independent prospect targeted as a potentially large addition to the already significant Pil and Bue discoveries announced in 2014, all of which are located in the same licence.”

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