Lundin hits more oil at Alta

Lundin Norway encountered oil at two appraisal wells at the Alta discovery in the Barents Sea that proved important for the eastern flank Alta, and will result in further exploration in the area.   

Map of the appraisal wells. Image from NPD.

Wells 7220/11-3 and 7220/11-3 A are located at Alta, in PL609, about 10-20km northeast of Lundin Petroleum’s Gohta discovery in the Barents Sea South, and approximately 160km from the Norwegian coastline. The wells were drilled to total vertical depths of 1925 and 1962m below mean sea level, respectively, in rocks of Permian age, at 400m water depth.

Preliminary evaluation of the gross recoverable oil and gas resource range from the Alta discovery well, completed in October 2014, was estimated at 125-400 MMboe. After drilling both well, estimates remain unchanged.

Appraisal well 7220/11-3, encountered a 120m thick hydrocarbon bearing interval, of which 45m is oil, in rocks of good to very good reservoir quality. The well had to be plugged due to technical problems, Lundin said. The well is located approximately 4km south of the original Alta discovery well 7220/11-1 and approximately 3km northeast of the previous appraisal well 7220/11-2.

The well’s main objectives of confirming the reservoir model and proving the presence of hydrocarbon columns and fluid contacts similar to those established in the Alta discovery well were successfully achieved, Lundin said.

The 7220/11-3 A geological sidetrack well, drilled about 400m southeast of 7220/11-3, encountered a gross hydrocarbon column of 74m, of which 30m was gas and 44m oil in reservoir rocks of varying quality. Lundin temporarily plugged and abandoned the sidetrack to be able to reenter, drill deeper, and eventually carry out a production test at a later stage.

Pressure data from both wells have proved communication with the discovery well 7220/11-1. Lundin performed extensive data acquisition and sampling, including conventional coring and fluid sampling.

Both wells were drilled using the Island Innovator, which will proceed to drill the Neiden prospect in the northern part of PL609.

Lundin Norway is operator and holds 40% working interest in PL609. The partners are DEA Norge AS and Idemitsu Petroleum Norge AS with 30% working interest each.