Lundin Norway AS, a subsidiary of Lundin Petroleum AB, has produced natural gas from Lower Triassic reservoir sections on its PL609 7220/11-3 A (Alta-3) reentry well in the southern Barents Sea. The well lies east of the Alta discovery, which is estimated to contain gross contingent resources of 125-400 MMboe.
The original Alta-3 well was drilled in 2015 and encountered a 120-m gross hydrocarbon column. The reentry well was designed to further assess the quality of the Permo-Carboniferous carbonate reservoir and to conduct injection and production tests, Lundin said. It was the first of three wells in the operator’s 2016 drilling campaign on the Loppa High, and it was drilled to a TD of 2,575 m, MD of 2,389 m, and in 400 m of water (OGJ Online, July 21, 2016).
The operator performed three tests—two of which injected 5,000 and 18,200 bbl of seawater below the oil-water contact in the Falk and Orn formations, respectively. The operator produced 21 Mscfd of gas in third test through a 1-in. choke from the Lower Triassic reservoir. No test was planned in the oil zone.
Pressure data from the Alta-3, Alta-3A, and Alta-3AR indicate good communication with the two previously drilled wells on the Alta discovery (OGJ Online, Sep. 30, 2015). Lundin Petroleum Pres. Alex Schneiter said, “Further appraisal over the Alta discovery will be required during 2017 to fully delineate this large structure.”
Once the Leiv Eiriksson rig has plugged and abandoned the Alta-3 well, it will move 60 km to the north on PL609 to reenter the suspended well 7220/6-2 to complete the drilling of the Neiden prospect, which is estimated to contain gross unrisked prospective resources of 204 MMboe.
Lundin Norway is the operator of PL609 and holds a 40% working interest in the license (OGJ Online, May 30, 2016). Partners are Idemitsu Petroleum Norge AS and RWE Dea Norge AS, each with 30% interest.
