Appraisal wells indicate communication with Alta discovery

Lundin Norway AS is considering two more appraisal wells after recent results from wells near the 2014 Alta oil and gas discovery in the Barents Sea (OGJ Online, Oct. 14, 2014).

The company and the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate said pressure data on the wells in PL 609 indicate communication with Alta discovery well 7220/11-1.

Lundin said it “will likely drill up to two further appraisal wells in 2016, in addition to reentering the latest appraisal well” for a production test.

NPD said well 7220/11-3 encountered a 75-m gas column and the upper part of an oil column. Lundin said the well encountered a 120-m hydrocarbon-bearing interval, of which 45 m is oil. Both said the well was plugged due to “technical challenges.”

Sidetrack 7220/11-3A was drilled 400 m southeast. It encountered a 74-m column, 30 m gas and 44 m oil, and was temporarily plugged.

The 7220/11-3 and 7220/11-3A wells were drilled to measured depths of 1,926 m and 2,105 m, respectively, and respective vertical depths of 1,925 m and 1,962 m subsea. Water depth is 397 m.

They were drilled about 4 km south of the Alta discovery well and 3 km northeast of appraisal wells 7220/11-2 and 7220/11-2A (OGJ Online, June 12, 2015).

The Island Innovator drilled the wells and will now drill wildcat 7220/6-2 in the northern part of PL 609.

Partnership interests are Lundin 40%, DEA Norge AS 30%, and Idemitsu Petroleum Norge AS 30%.