Statoil and partners Eni and Petoro have made a small gas discovery in the Blåmann well, between the Snøhvit and Goliat fields in the Barents Sea, despite having been looking for oil.
The Songa Enabler, from Songa Offshore. |
Recoverable volumes are estimated at 2-3 Bcm, or about 10-20 MMboe. Gas was found in a 23m column in the Stø formation. No oil volumes were encountered.
The discovery is in the Hammerfest basin, approximately 21km southeast of the Snøhvit field.
“We were exploring for oil and this is not the result we were hoping for,” says Jez Averty, senior vice president for exploration in Norway and the UK. “However, this gas discovery has the potential to contribute additional resources to the Snøhvit project."
This is the second discovery in Statoil’s 2017 Barents Sea exploration campaign, following the Kayak oil discovery announced on 3 July.
The well was drilled by the Songa Enabler semisubmersible drilling rig, which will now move on to the Hoop area to drill the Gemini North prospect in license PL855, northeast of the Wisting discovery.
The well was drilled in license PL 849, awarded in 2016 in Norway’s Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) licensing round.
The licensees on Blåmann (PL849) are: Statoil (operator) 50%, ENI 30% and Petoro 20%.
The licensees on Gemini North (PL855) are: Statoil (operator) 55%, OMV 25% and Petoro 20%.
Statoil started drilling operations in the area in late-May, as part of a five well exploration program.
Read more:
Statoil starts at Blåmann in Barents
Statoil close to starting Barents Sea exploration program