Equinor moves rig as Norwegian Sea well comes up dry

Equinor Energy AS has plugged a Norwegian Sea exploration well after extensive data acquisition and sampling. Well 6507/8-11 S, the ninth exploration well in production license 124, is classified as dry.

The well was drilled about 17 km north of Heidrun field and 240 km west of Sandnessjøen by the Deepsea Stavanger drilling rig to a vertical depth of 2,492 m subsea. It was terminated in the Red Beds from the Triassic. Water depth at the site is 290 m.

The objective was to prove petroleum in Lower Jurassic and Triassic reservoir rocks in the Åre formation and Grey Beds.

The well encountered reservoir rocks in the Åre formation and in Grey Beds, of which there were sandstone layers totaling 206 m with good reservoir quality. Weak traces of petroleum were encountered.

The rig will now drill wildcat well 6605/1-2 S in production license 1128 in the Norwegian Sea, where Equinor is operator.

Equinor is operator of production license 124 with 35% interest. Partners are ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS (27.91%), Petoro AS (27.089%), and Vår Energi ASA (10%).