StatoilHydro makes Norwegian N. Sea find

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Feb. 21 -- StatoilHydro AS has made an oil discovery on the Norwegian continental shelf in 125 m of water southwest of Grane field in the North Sea.

The Transocean Winner semisubmersible rig drilled Well 25/11-25 S to a vertical depth of 1,804 m subsea to Paleogenic age reservoir rock.

StatoilHydro said it carried out comprehensive data collection and testing, and reported that the discovery is estimated to hold 20-30 million bbl of oil. The well was not formation strength-tested, the company said. Drilling has been concluded, and the well will be permanently plugged and abandoned.

The discovery was made in connection with production license PL169, named M prospect, which StatoilHydro operates. The semisubmersible next will drill a lateral exploration well 25/11-25 A to prove the presence of oil in a nearby prospect within the production license.

"The discovery in the M prospect may be relevant for further investigation when seen in the context of other discoveries in the area," the company said.

Licensees on production license PL169 include StatoilHydro 57%, Petoro 30%, and ExxonMobil Corp. 13%.

This latest discovery follows three other finds in the Norwegian Sea in January. These are:

-- The Bideford Dolphin semisubmersible drilled well 35/11-B23-H in the eastern area of Fram field, 10 km north of the Troll West northern flank, proving additional oil in the Fram area of the sea. The well was designed to target oil in Mid-Jurassic rocks in the C East prospect and serve as a horizontal producer in a proved Fram East reservoir. StatoilHydro estimates reserves, mostly crude, of as much as 100 MMboe in place, which could produce 20-40 MMboe. StatoilHydro said the discovery could extend into neighboring Block 35/12, on Production License PL090D. It will be tied back to either Fram East or Troll C. Licensees in PL090 and PL090D are operator StatoilHydro 45%, Gaz de France 15%, Idemitsu Petroleum 15%, and ExxonMobil 25%.

-- StatoilHydro hit a 2-3 billion cu m gas pocket with its Gamma prospect well on the Haltenbanken in sandstone of the Early Jurassic. Gamma was drilled in water 226 m deep 8 km southeast of Mikkel field in the Norwegian Sea. That find, on Production License 312, likely will be tied back to Asgard. The well was plugged, and the Ocean Vanguard semisubmersible moved to drill a development well in Alve field in the sea. Partners in PL 312 are operator StatoilHydro 59%, ExxonMobil 24% and Eni SPA 17%.

-- On Jan. 29, Eni reported completion of exploration well 6507/2-4, about 21 km southwest of Norne field in the Norwegian Sea. The well on PL 122 in 365 m of water, was drilled to 3,600 m subsea and confirmed the extension of the gas-condensate Marulk discovery, which Eni operates with a 20% stake. StatoilHydro holds 50% and DONG Energy 30%. The Marulk discovery is estimated to hold reserves of 80-120 million boe.