The latest appraisal well on the giant Johan Sverdrup field in the Norwegian North Sea found a deeper reservoir thickness than expected, said operator Lundin Petroleum AB (Lundin Petroleum).
Appraisal well 16/3-7, located in the south-eastern part of PL501, containing the Johan Sverdrup discovery, was drilled about 3km south-east of well 16/3-5 and 4km south-west of exploration well 16/3-2.
The well encountered a gross reservoir thickness of 50m, slightly deeper to what was expected.
The reservoir consists of 14m of excellent quality sandstone of late Jurassic age and 36m of dolomitic carbonates of Permian age with good reservoir properties.
The well showed a good common water gradient in both the sandstone and carbonates demonstrating good communication between the two reservoirs. The oil water contact was not proven in the well. However, oil and water was sampled in the uppermost part of the reservoir, at 1925m below mean sea level (MSL), which indicates an oil water contact close to this level and that the well was positioned near the edge of the field.
The well was drilled to a total depth of 2075m below mean sea level into sediments of Permian age. A comprehensive coring and logging program has been successfully completed.
The well was drilled using the semisubmersible drilling rig Bredford Dolphin. The rig will now drill appraisal well 16/5-5 in PL410, also operated by Lundin Norway.
Lundin Norway is the operator in PL501 with 40% interest. The partners are Statoil Petroleum AS with 40% interest and Maersk Oil Norway AS with 20%.
