Aker BP ASA will assess results of a minor oil and gas discovery in the Norwegian Sea.
Well 6607/12-4 and appraisal 6607/12-4 A were drilled by the Deepsea Nordkapp drilling rig 200 km west of Brønnøysund and 7 km northeast of the Alve Nord (6607/12-2 S) gas and oil discovery in PL 127 C to 4,124 m and 3,109 m TVD subsea, respectively. Water depth at the site is 362 m. Well 6607/12-4 was terminated in the Åre formation from the Triassic age, while 6607/12-4 A was terminated in the Lange formation from the Early Cretaceous age.
The primary exploration target for well 6607/12-4 was to prove petroleum in reservoir rocks from the Jurassic-Triassic age (Garn, Ile, Tofte, Tilje, and Åre formations). The secondary exploration target was to prove petroleum in reservoir rocks from the Early Cretaceous age (the Lange formation).
In the primary target, the well encountered a total gas column of 80 m in Garn, Not, and Ile formations which had 45 m of sandstone layers with poor reservoir quality. Sandstone layers are aquiferous in the other formations from the Jurassic-Triassic age, with moderate-to-poor reservoir quality.
In the secondary target, the well encountered oil in three reservoir zones in the Lange formation. Oil was encountered in a 2-m sandstone layer in the upper zone with poor-to-moderate reservoir quality. The middle zone had a 5-m sandstone layer with moderate-to-good reservoir quality, and the lower zone had a 3-m sandstone layer with poor-to-moderate reservoir quality. No oil-water contacts were encountered.
The primary objective for 6607/12-4 A was to delineate a potential discovery in well 6607/12-4 in Jurassic-Triassic reservoir rocks. The exploration target was abandoned due to poorer than expected reservoir properties, and the exploration target was changed to delineate the oil discovery that was proven in reservoir rocks from the Early Cretaceous age (Lange formation).
The well encountered oil in three reservoir zones in the Lange formation, as was the case in wildcat 6607/12-4. In the upper zone, oil was encountered in a 4-m sandstone layer with poor-to-moderate reservoir quality. The middle zone encountered a 6-m sandstone layer with moderate-to-good reservoir quality, and the lower zone encountered a 4-m sandstone layer with poor-to-moderate reservoir quality. No oil-water contacts were encountered.
The wells have been permanently plugged.
Preliminary estimates put the size of the gas-oil discovery in the Jurassic-Triassic at 0.5-1 million standard cu m recoverable oil equivalent. The proven oil discovery in the Lower Cretaceous is 1-2.7 million standard cu m recoverable oil equivalent. The oil discovery may be an extension of the Cape Vulture (6608/10-17 S) oil and gas discovery from 2017 (OGJ Online, Oct. 4, 2018).
The licensees will assess the results of the gas-oil discovery alongside the Alve Nord, while the oil discovery will be evaluated in connection with nearby discoveries for further follow-up.
Deepsea Nordkapp will move to drill production wells on Aker BP-operated Alvheim field in PL 203 in the North Sea.
Aker BP is operator of PL 127C with 88% interest. PGNiG Upstream Norway AS holds the remaining 12%.
