Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority asked Lundin Norway AS to answer questions by Apr. 6 regarding its drilling plans for production license 492 in the southern Barents Sea, 185 km northwest of Hammerfest. Lundin Petroleum AB is drilling appraisal wells for its Gohta discovery.
During February, PSA audited Lundin’s plans to use managed pressure drilling (MPD) using a controlled mud level method. Lundin operates PL492 with a 40% interest. Partners are DNO ASA 40% and Noreco Norway AS 20%.
“This is a relatively new method, even on the international scale,” PSA said. “This drilling method involves the use of temporary and heavy equipment. The altered operational procedures ensuing from this requirement entail customized, robust risk assessments.”
The Gohta discovery and subsequent appraisal drilling represents the first successful test of Permian carbonate reservoirs on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (OGJ Online, Oct. 2, 2013).
The 7120/1-3 well, in PL492 about 35 km north of Snohvit field, proved oil in contact with an overlying gas cap (OGJ Online, Sept. 10, 2013). The well’s purpose was to prove petroleum in reservoir rocks in Triassic sandstone reservoirs and Permo-Carboniferous carbonate reservoir.
In the carbonate reservoir, the well found a 25-m gross gas column above a 75-m gross oil column in karstified and dolomitized limestone. The Triassic sandstone was water-bearing.
PSA’s audit also covered Lundin’s plans to use drilling contractor Ocean Rig and service provider Enhanced Drilling. No regulatory nonconformities were identified during the audit. But PSA has asked for more information about MPD logistics.
An appraisal well is being drilled by the Leiv Eiriksson semisubmersible drilling rig, Lundin Norway said in a Mar. 6 news release. Lundin seeks to delineate the northeastern extend of Gohta discovery and to plan for a horizontal well. Appraisal drilling was expected to take about 75 days.
Contact Paula Dittrick at [email protected].
