Statoil makes new oil find near Norne

April 22, 2002
Statoil has made an oil discovery in the Stær structure about 3 km northeast of the firm's Norne field in the Norwegian Sea; its oil quality is similar to that of Norne's. The find could contribute to a unitized development of several reservoirs in the area. Its commerciality will now be assessed.

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Apr.22 -- Statoil has made an oil discovery in the Stær structure close to the firm's Norne field in the Norwegian Sea. The find could contribute to a unitized development of several reservoirs in the area. Its commerciality will now be assessed. Stær lies about 3 km northeast of the Norne production ship, and its oil quality is similar to that of Norne's.

"This is particularly interesting, because we've previously made discoveries in the Svale and Falk structures," said Roger Inge Johansen, exploration manager in Statoil's Halten-Nordland business group. "Stær is accordingly very important for achieving a unitized development of finds in the Norne area" (OGJ Online, Sept. 17, 2001).

Exploration well 6608/10-8 on production license 128 was drilled vertically from the Stena Don rig to total measured depth of 2,660 m and terminated in early Jurassic rocks. A sidetrack, 6608/10-8A, was drilled 600 m out from the vertical well to delineate the areal extent of the field. This had a total measured depth of roughly 2,600 m below the seabed.

Stena Don has also been chartered to drill a well in the Blåmeis structure east of Norne this summer.