Wintershall Norge has made a gas and condensate discovery in the Solberg well in the Norwegian Sea.
Exploration well 6407/1-7 and the subsequent sidetrack 6407/1-7A, in production license 475, encountered gas and condensate in the main target lower Cretaceous Lange formation, both confirming hydrocarbons at the same reservoir level as in the Rodriguez discovery well.
Image: The Borgland Dolphin semisubmersible drilling rig.
The wells were drilled about 8km northeast of the Tyrihans field and 5km northeast of the 6407/1-6 S gas condensate discovery in PL 475.
The preliminary resource estimate for the Solberg discovery within PL475 is in the range 6-25MMboe gross, which consists of 1-5MM bbl condensate and 30-120Bcf gas, said partner Faroe Petroleum (20% WI).
In addition, the revised preliminary resource estimate for the Rodriguez discovery within PL475 is 6-38MMboe gross. The gas condensate ratio is expected to be similar in both Rodriguez and Solberg
Faroe said: “Although Solberg and Rodriguez form part of one and the same reservoir channel system, a difference observed in the reservoir pressures between the two wells indicates that the two discoveries may not be in communication and the volumes for the two discoveries are therefore provided separately.”
The firm added: “The Rodriguez and Solberg gas and condensate discoveries have been made in channel systems which are likely to extend across several licenses and northwards into the Milagro license (PL590) in which Faroe holds a 30% interest; the possible extension of the discoveries beyond license PL475 has not been included in the above resource range estimates.”
Faroe CEO Graham Stewart said: “We will now work together with our license partners to assess the total volumetric potential across Rodriguez, Solberg and Milagro to assess their combined commercial potential.”
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate said the wells were the second and third exploration wells in PL475. The production license was awarded on 29 February 2008 (APA 2007).
Wells 6407/1-7 and 6407/1-7 A were drilled to vertical depths of 3345 and 3311m, respectively, below the sea surface, the latter with a measured depth of 3571m. Both wells were terminated in the Lange formation in the Early Cretaceous. Water depth at the site is 280m. The well has been permanently plugged and abandoned.
Wells 6407/1-7 and 6407/1-7 A were drilled by the Borgland Dolphin drilling facility, which will now move to PL550, in the northern part of the North Sea, to drill wildcat well 31/2-21 S, operated by Tullow Oil Norge.
Partners on PL475 are Wintershall Norge (operator with 35% WI) Faroe Petroleum Norge (20%), Centrica Resources Norge (20%), Moeco Oil & Gas Norge (15%), and Spike Exploration Holding (10%).
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