Wintershall reduces Balderbra resource estimates following appraisal

Wintershall Dea Norge AS, operator of production license 894, has reduced resource estimates of the Balderbra gas discovery in the northern Norwegian Sea and will plug well 6604/5-2 S after the appraisal well was determined to be dry. New resource estimates for the discovery are 3-8 billion standard cu m of recoverable gas and 0.2-1 million standard cu m of recoverable condensate. Prior to drilling the appraisal well, the operator estimated resources of 7-19 billion s cu m of recoverable gas and 1-3 million standard cu m of recoverable condensate.

The licensees will assess the discovery together with other discoveries in the area for further follow-up.

The appraisal well was drilled about 113 km southwest of Aasta Hansteen field by Saipem's Scarabeo 8 semisubmersible drilling rig to a vertical depth of 3,816 m and a measured depth of 4,121 m subsea in water depth of 1,207 m. It was terminated in the Springar formation in the Upper Cretaceous.

The 6604/5-1 gas discovery was proven in Upper Cretaceous reservoir rocks (the Springar formation) in 2018.

The well encountered the Springar formation in three intervals totaling 210 m, with a total of about 140 m of sandstone with poor reservoir quality. Only traces of gas were encountered, and pressure communication with the discovery well has not been confirmed.

Extensive volumes of data have been collected and samples have been taken.

The exploration well is the third in the license. Wintershall is operator with 40% interest. Partners are Equinor Energy AS, 40%; and Petoro AS, 20%.

Scarbeo 8 will now drill wildcat well 6406/3-10 in production license 836 S in the Norwegian Sea, where Wintershall is operator.