Equinor Energy AS and partners will consider developing a minor oil discovery in northern North Sea production license PL 554 as a tie-in to the planned development of the Garantiana oil discovery. Exploration well 34/6-5 S—the sixth in the license—was drilled 10 km northeast of Visund field and 120 km west of Florø in 385 m water depth. Preliminary estimates place the size of the discovery at 1.3-3.6 million std cu m recoverable oil equivalent.
The well was drilled by the West Hercules drilling rig to respective vertical and measured depths of 3,952 m and 4,005 m below sea level. It was terminated in the Nansen formation.
The primary exploration target was to prove petroleum in reservoir rocks of Early Jurassic age (Cook formation). The secondary exploration target was to prove petroleum in reservoir rocks of Early Jurassic age (Nansen formation).
The well encountered an 86-m oil column in the Cook formation, of which about 60 m are sandstones with moderate to good reservoir quality. Oil-water contact lies 3,672-3,674 m below sea level. The well encountered water-bearing sandstones in the Nansen formation.
Extensive data acquisition and sampling have been carried out. A well test yielded stable production of 550 std cu m/d oil and 22,000 std cu m/d gas through a 20/64-in. choke. Maximum production rates were 1,180 std cu m/d oil and 38,000 std m/d gas through a 28/64-in. choke. Tests revealed good flow properties with stable flow pressure, low pressure decline, and consistent pressure build-up.
The well has been permanently plugged.
The rig will now drill pilot holes in PL 272 and 035 (near the 30/11-8 S (Krafla) and 30/11-9 S (Askja) discoveries in the North Sea), where Equinor is operator.
Equinor is operator at PL 554 with 40% interest. Partners are Aker BP (30%) and Vår Energi AS (30%).