Minor gas/condensate discovery near the Kristin field in the Norwegian Sea - 6406/2-9 S
1/16/2019 Equinor Energy AS, operator of production licence 199, is in the process of concluding the drilling of wildcat well 6406/2-9 S.
The well was drilled about 22 kilometres south of the Kristin field in the Norwegian Sea and 195 kilometres northwest of Kristiansund.
The primary exploration target for the well was to prove petroleum in Middle to Lower Jurassic reservoir rocks (in the Garn and Ile formation and in the Tofte formation, respectively). The secondary exploration target was to prove petroleum in Upper Cretaceous reservoir rocks (the Lange formation) and in the Lower Jurassic (the Tilje formation), in the event of discovery in the overlying Tofte formation.
In the primary exploration target, the well encountered a gas/condensate column of about 10 metres in the Tofte formation with moderate reservoir properties. The entire Tofte formation totals about 140 metres, of which effective reservoir rocks of 120 metres with sandstone of poor to moderate reservoir quality. The Garn and Ile formation came in at about 85 and 70 metres respectively, of which effective reservoir rocks of 75 and 65 metres, mainly with poor to moderate reservoir quality. Both formations are aquiferous.
In the secondary exploration target in the Lange formation, the well encountered several one to five-metre thin gas-bearing sandstone layers, with poor reservoir quality. The uppermost layer has a three-metre gas column. The upper part of the Tilje formation is about 105 metres, whereof 75 metres of effective reservoir rocks with aquiferous sandstones, mainly with poor reservoir quality.
Preliminary estimates place the size of the discovery between one and four million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable oil equivalents. The licensees will consider tying the discovery to existing infrastructure as regards future phase-in to the Kristin Sør project.
The well was not formation-tested, but extensive data acquisition and sampling have been carried out.
This is the 12th exploration well in production licence 199. The licence was awarded in the 14th licensing round in 1993.
Well 6406/2-9 S was drilled to respective vertical and measured depths of 4880 and 4944 metres below the sea surface, and it was terminated in the Tilje formation in the Lower Jurassic. Water depth at the site is 278 metres. The well will now be permanently plugged and abandoned.
Well 6406/2-9 S was drilled by the West Phoenix drilling facility, which will now drill a wildcat well in the UK sector with Equinor UK Ltd as operator.
Updated: 2/10/2025