StatoilHydro finds oil in Fram area off Norway

Jan. 15, 2008
Operator StatoilHydro Petroleum AS has discovered oil with development well 35/11-B-23-H, which it drilled in the Fram area in the Norwegian North Sea.

Uchenna Izundu
International Editor

LONDON, Jan. 15 -- Operator StatoilHydro Petroleum AS has discovered oil with development well 35/11-B-23-H, which it drilled in the Fram area in the Norwegian North Sea.

Oil was found in the Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks in the "C Ost" prospect, which is estimated to have 100 million boe in place, most of which is oil. The discovery could extend into PL090D on Block 35/12. "That could yield recoverable reserves of 20-40 million boe, depending on such considerations as the recovery factor and reservoir thickness," StatoilHydro said.

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate said the part of the well that hit the exploration target will be permanently plugged and abandoned.

The licensees will evaluate tying the discovery back to Fram oil field, which is in 350 m deep water. Fram West is being developed with two subsea templates tied back to Troll C.

The Bideford Dolphin semisubmersible drilled the well on Production License 090 to a vertical depth of 2,525 m below the sea surface, and it finished in the Early Jurassic formation. The well is 10 km north of Troll.

Tom Dreyer, vice- president for infrastructure-led exploration North Sea at StatoilHydro, said the well was drilled from the Bideford Dolphin as part of a combined design that includes an exploration target as well as a horizontal producer in previously proved Fram East reservoir. "This type of combined well has become an important part of our exploration strategy in parts of the Norwegian continental shelf with existing infrastructure," Dreyer said.

The licensees in production licenses 090 & 090 D are StatoilHydro ASA 20%, StatoilHydro Petroleum AS 25%, Gaz de France Norge AS 15%, Idemitsu Petroleum Norge AS 15%, and Mobil Development Norway AS 25%.

Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].