Harbour Energy proves gas condensate in Vega Unit

Harbour Energy Norge AS has proven gas condensate in the Camilla Nord prospect in production licenses (PL) 248 LS and 248 B in the North Sea, said the Norwegian Offshore Directorate in a Dec. 19 release.

Wildcat wells 35/8-8 S and A were drilled in the Vega Unit, 100 km southwest of Florø, by Transocean Norge in 375 m of water. These were the first and second exploration wells drilled in the licenses.

Well 35/8-8 S was drilled to a vertical depth of 4,146 m below sea level in the Amundsen formation. The primary target was to prove petroleum in reservoir rocks from the Middle Jurassic (Brent Group) and the Early Jurassic (Cook formation).

The well encountered a 26-m gas column in the Tarbert formation in the Brent Group, in sandstone totaling 10 m with poor reservoir properties. The gas-water contact was not encountered.

Two gas columns—2 and 4 m respectively—were also encountered in the Etive formation (Brent Group), in sandstone totaling 6 m with moderate reservoir properties. The gas-water contact was encountered 3,752 m below sea level in the upper gas column. The gas-water contact was not encountered in the lower gas column.

In the other primary exploration target, the well encountered reservoir rocks from the Early Jurassic (Cook formation) with a thickness of 123 m, in sandstone totaling 34 m with moderate reservoir properties.

The well also encountered reservoir rocks from the Late Jurassic (Heather formation) with a thickness of 238 m, 39 m of which consisted of sandstone with poor reservoir properties. Furthermore, the well proved a 2-m gas column in reservoir rocks from the Early Jurassic (Drake formation) totaling 1 m of sandstone with poor-to-moderate reservoir properties.

Well 35/8-8 A was drilled to a vertical depth of 3,789 m below sea level in the Rannoch formation. The primary target was to prove petroleum in reservoir rocks from the Middle Jurassic (Brent Group).

The well encountered reservoir rocks from the Middle Jurassic (Brent Group) with a thickness of 139 m, including 53 m in sandstone with good-to-poor reservoir properties. The well encountered a 2-m gas column in the Ness formation (Brent Group) in sandstone totaling 2 m with moderate reservoir properties. The gas-water contact was encountered at 3,654 m below sea level.

The well also encountered reservoir rocks from the Late Jurassic (Heather formation) with a thickness of 214 m, 36 m of which consisted of sandstone with poor reservoir properties. The well was drilled to a vertical depth of 3,789 m below sea level in the Rannoch formation.

Preliminary estimates indicate the size of the discovery at 0.4-0.8 million std cu m of recoverable oil equivalent. This corresponds to 2.2-4.7 MMboe. The licensees will consider tying back the discovery to existing infrastructure on Vega field.

Neither well was formation-tested, but extensive data acquisition and sampling were carried out. Both wells have been permanently plugged and abandoned.

Harbor Energy is operator at PL 248 B and 248 LS (60%) with partner Petoro AS (40%).