Aldous North Sea find could exceed 200-400 MMboe

Aug. 8, 2011
Operator Statoil ASA said its Aldous Major South oil discovery in the North Sea off Norway is estimated to have 200-400 million bbl recoverable, could be expanded to the north and south, and with the adjacent Avaldsnes find may support stand-alone development.

Operator Statoil ASA said its Aldous Major South oil discovery in the North Sea off Norway is estimated to have 200-400 million bbl recoverable, could be expanded to the north and south, and with the adjacent Avaldsnes find may support stand-alone development.

Lundin Petroleum AB, which has 10% interest in Aldous Major South, said the 16/2-8 discovery on the Aldous South prospect in PL265 is most likely an extension of the Avalsdnes discovery made by Lundin Petroleum in PL501 in the Greater Luno area (see map, OGJ, Apr. 4, 2011, p. 50).

The preliminary recoverable estimate applies to the part of the structure in PL265, Statoil said. Avaldsnes/Aldous Major South is a “world class oil discovery and likely to be one of the largest Norwegian fields found in recent years,” Lundin Petroleum said.

The 16/2-8 well went to 2,083 m true vertical depth in 112 m of water 4 km west of the Avaldsnes discovery well in PL501, where Lundin Petroleum is the operator with a 40% interest and Statoil has 40%. Alvaldsnes found a 17-m oil column.

Aldous Major South encountered gross oil column in excess of 65 m in Jurassic sandstone. Early data acquisition program confirmed excellent reservoir characteristics with a high net-to-gross ratio and the same oil-water contact as the Avalsdnes discovery well indicating likely communication.

The Transocean Leader will complete the 16/2-8 well and spud the Aldous Major North well, which Statoil said also has a considerable potential. The partnership of Statoil, Petoro 30%, Det norske oljeselskap 20%, and Lundin plans two appraisal wells in PL 265 next year, which which a rig is secured.

The result of the Lundin-operated 16/2-7 drilling appraisal well on the Avaldsnes structure will help further clarify the area’s potential, Statoil said.