Oil discovery near the Maria field in the Norwegian Sea – 6406/3-10

The primary exploration target for the well was to prove petroleum in reservoir rocks from the Early and Middle Jurassic (the Ile Formation and the Tilje Formation). The secondary exploration target was to prove petroleum in reservoir rocks from the Middle Jurrasic Age (the Garn Formation).

In the primary exploration target, well 6406/3-10 encountered hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone layers totalling about 35 metres in the Ile Formation, with poor reservoir quality. The well encountered a total oil column of 120 metres in the Tilje Formation, with sandstone layers totalling about 75 metres with poor to good reservoir quality. The oil/water contact was not encountered.

In the secondary exploration target, a total oil column of about 60 metres was encountered in the Garn Formation, with sandstone of poor to moderate reservoir quality. The oil/water contact was encountered at about 4095 metres below sea level.

Preliminary estimates place the size of the discovery at between 4 and 15 million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable oil equivalents. The licensees will consider tying the discovery in to existing infrastructure in the area.

The well was not formation-tested, but data acquisition and sampling have been carried out.

This is the first exploration well in production licence 836 S. The licence was awarded in APA 2015.

Well 6406/3-10 was drilled to a vertical depth of 4566 metres below sea level, and was terminated in the Åre Formation from the Early Jurassic Age.

Water depth at the site is 313 metres. The well will now be temporarily plugged and abandoned.

Well 6406/3-10 was partially drilled by the West Mira drilling facility. The well was then temporarily plugged and abandoned before drilling was completed by the Scarabeo 8 drilling facility.