Lundin Norway AS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lundin Petroleum AB, encountered a 66-m gross oil column in pebbly sandstone with medium-to-good reservoir quality while drilling appraisal well 16/1-23 S on Edvard Grieg field in the Norwegian North Sea.
The objective of the well, which lies 2.4 km southeast of the Edvard Grieg platform, was to further delineate the southeastern portion of the field southwestwardly from last year’s successful appraisal well 16/1-18 (OGJ Online, Feb. 26, 2014), and test the incremental resource potential of the area.
Extensive data acquisition and sampling is ongoing with initial data results appearing very promising with regard to additional in-place volumes, Lundin says. The integration of the well results will be used to optimize the drainage strategy and to determine the best possible location for production wells in the area.
The well was drilled by the Rowan Viking jack up rig to a vertical depth of 2,043 m below the sea surface in 108 m of water, terminating in the granite basement. The rig will return to the Edvard Grieg platform to continue drilling of production and injection wells.
“This well, together with last year’s appraisal well in the same area of the field, will in my opinion result in an increase to the Edvard Grieg reserves at the end of this year,” said Ashley Heppenstall, Lundin Petroleum president and chief executive officer. “The low incremental cost of developing such barrels will add value to the Edvard Grieg asset.”
Appraisal well 16/1-23 S is the 10th exploration or appraisal well drilled on PL338, which was awarded in 2004. Seven have been drilled on Edvard Grieg field. Lundin Norway operates the license with 50% working interest. Partners are OMV Norge AS 20%, Statoil Petroleum AS 15%, and Wintershall Norge AS 15%.
