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Exploratory drilling levels off Norway predicted flat for 1998

Feb. 2, 1998

Norwegian offshore discoveries in 1997 [87,869 bytes] Norwegian oil industry regulator Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has outlined operators' plans for exploratory drilling off Norway this year and disclosed results of 1997 exploration programs. NPD says Norway's offshore operators plan to spud 45 exploratory wells in 1998, 15 in the Norwegian Sea and the rest in the mature North Sea area. Rolf Wiborg, NPD resource management director, said, "Exploration looks set to stay at the

Norwegian offshore discoveries in 1997 [87,869 bytes]

Norwegian oil industry regulator Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has outlined operators' plans for exploratory drilling off Norway this year and disclosed results of 1997 exploration programs.

NPD says Norway's offshore operators plan to spud 45 exploratory wells in 1998, 15 in the Norwegian Sea and the rest in the mature North Sea area.

Rolf Wiborg, NPD resource management director, said, "Exploration looks set to stay at the same level as last year and will focus particularly on areas with existing infrastructure."

Tor Gunnar Gloppen, Statoil's license manager, said, "Exploiting investment already made in infrastructure by proving additional nearby resources will be important for us.

"However, that must be balanced against the need to identify new reserves, which can be developed before today's big fields are depleted."

Gloppen sees rig availability as a key factor in determining well numbers this year.

1997 results

NPD reported that last year's exploration program off Norway led to 17 discoveries with reserves additions totaling 70-140 million cu m of oil and condensate and more than 200 billion cu m of gas.

Six of the finds were in the Norwegian Sea and 11 in the North Sea area (see table). Of a total 47 exploratory wells drilled off Norway last year, 35 were new-pool wildcats and 12 were appraisal wells.