Aker BP ASA discovered gas in production license (PL) 1153 25 km north of Duva field in the North Sea. The licensees will assess the well results to determine whether the discovery is economically profitable and to evaluate potential further delineation.

Well 36/4-2 was first exploration well drilled in the Alpehumle prospect. It was drilled by the Scarabeo 8 rig to 2,250 m TVD subsea in 255 m of water. It was terminated in basement rock. Sidetrack 36/4-2 A was drilled to 2,320 m TVD subsea. It was terminated in an unidentified formation.

The primary exploration target for well 36/4-2 was to prove petroleum in reservoir rocks from the Early Cretaceous (the Agat formation). The objective of sidetrack 36/4-2 A was to delineate the discovery in 36/4-2 as well as to prove the hydrocarbon-water contact.

Well 36/4-2 encountered a 10-m gas column in the Agat formation, 10 m of which were in sandstone layers with very good reservoir quality. The hydrocarbon-water contact was not proven. Well 36/4-2 A encountered 4 m of sandstone of very good reservoir quality in the Agat formation. The reservoir was aquiferous.

Data acquisition and sampling were conducted in both wells. Preliminary calculations show the size of the discovery at 0.15-2.4 million std cu m of recoverable oil equivalent (1-15 MMboe).

Both wells will be permanently plugged.

Aker BP is operator of PL 1153 (40%). Partners are Inpex Idemitsu Norge AS (30%), Okea ASA (20%), and Harbour Energy Norge AS (10%).