Statoil ASA plans to drill about 30 exploration wells in 2017 as operator and partner, an increase of about 30% compared with the 23 in 2016.
More than half of the wells will be drilled on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Statoil expects 16-18 wells to be completed there compared with 14 in 2016. Discoveries are “crucial” to counteract NCS decline, the company said.
The program “is balanced between proven, well-known basins and new frontier opportunities,” said Tim Dodson, executive vice-president, exploration.
A 5-7 well exploration campaign is planned in the Barents Sea. Statoil plans to test targets in the relatively well-known geology in the Johan Castberg and Hoop/Wisting areas, and new frontier opportunities with greater geological uncertainty but high-impact potential.
In the Norwegian Sea and North Sea, Statoil seeks to prove near-field volumes to prolong the productive life of existing infrastructure and determine growth potential.
Statoil plans three operated wells in the UK. Partner-operated wells are planned in the US Gulf of Mexico, Indonesia, Suriname, Russia, and Turkey.
Statoil also noted that Brazil has become more important since the company became operator of the Carcara discovery last year, but the company did not provide well plans.