Statoil ASA and partners have found oil in the third of four wells planned this year in the Johan Castberg area of the Barents Sea offshore Norway (OGJ Online, Nov. 7, 2013).
The 7220/7-2 S well proved a 22-m gas column and a 23-m oil column in the Jurassic Tubaen formation and a 133-m oil column in the Triassic Fruholmen.
Gro G. Haatvedt, Statoil senior vice-president for exploration on the Norwegian continental shelf, said the Fruholmen strike “confirmed a new play model in the area.”
The Seadrill West Hercules semisubmersible rig drilled the well to the target depth of 1,700 m in 349 m of water on the Skavl prospect in the PL532 license.
Statoil estimates the prospect holds 20-50 million bbl of recoverable oil.
Skavl is 5 km south of the Johan Castberg area, where Statoil has made two oil discoveries, Skrugard and Havis. The first two wells drilled in the area this year, Nunatak and Iskrystall, found natural gas.
The West Hercules will be moved 16 km north to drill the Kramsno prospect.
Statoil, operator, holds a 50% interest in PL532. Eni Norge AS holds 30%, and Petoro AS holds 20%.
