Statoil reports two oil, condensate finds in Tampen area

May 20, 2002
Statoil ASA, Stavanger, has found condensate and light oil in two wells drilled in the Tampen area near Gullfaks and Statfjord fields in the Norwegian North Sea.

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, May 20 -- Statoil ASA, Stavanger, has found condensate and light oil in two wells drilled in the Tampen area near Gullfaks and Statfjord fields in the Norwegian North Sea. Both wells lie on production License 152. Exploration well 33/12-8S was drilled on the Dole prospect, while well 33/12-8A was drilled on the Ole prospect.

The wells confirmed hydrocarbons in Middle Jurassic rocks. Because of the similarities between the discoveries and Rimfaks and Gullveig producing fields, the wells were not production-tested. Well 33/12-8S was drilled to 3,350 m below mean sea level, and 33/12-8A was drilled to 3,369 m.

The latter was temporarily abandoned and will come on stream at a later stage. The Borgland Dolphin semisubmersible drilled both wells. "We have started a project to evaluate potential tie-back points for the new finds," said Bengt Beskow, Statoil's exploration manager for the Tampen complex. "If they are profitable, we expect them to produce from 2004," he said.

The finds lie about 16 km from both the Statfjord B and Gullfaks A platforms. The distance between Ole and Dole is about 1,700 m. Statoil is evaluating two development alternatives: The finds could be tied back via subsea templates on Gullfaks South satellite field and then on to Gullfaks C, or they could be tied back to the Statfjord B platform.

Statoil will be sole operator for the Tampen complex when the group takes over Snorre, Visund, Vigdis, and Tordis from Norsk Hydro AS on Jan.1, 2003.

The group therefore wants to search for and develop small finds in the area to extend production from Tampen platforms. The licensees in License 152 are Statoil 58.89%, Petoro [formerly state holdings group SDFI] 30%, and ExxonMobil Corp. 11.11%.

Statoil has entered into an agreement to assume ExxonMobil's stake retroactive from Jan.1, 2002. Authorities are expected to approve the agreement before midyear.