Neptune Energy has started drilling the Ofelia appraisal well in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.
The Ofelia discovery, in production license 929 about 14 km north of Neptune-operated Gjøa field, was made in August 2022 (OGJ Online, July 27, 2022). Preliminary estimates of recoverable volume are 2.5-6.2 million standard cu m (16-39 MMboe).
The new well (35/6-4 S) is being drilled by the Deepsea Yantai semi-submersible rig. The aim is to fully evaluate the hydrocarbon discovery in the Ofelia Agat formation, the company said in a release Oct. 3.
A secondary target is to evaluate an upside of gas charged reservoir in the shallower Kyrre formation.
The main reservoir target is the Lower Cretaceous Agat formation. It is expected to be reached at a depth of about 2,530 m.
Neptune Energy is operator of the license with 40% interest. Partners are Wintershall Dea (20%), Pandion Energy (20%), Aker BP (10%), and DNO (10%).