Delineation of the 6406/3-10 (Bergknapp) oil discovery near the Maria field in the Norwegian Sea – 6406/3-10 A

The well was drilled about 7 kilometres west of the Maria field in the Norwegian Sea and 200 kilometres north of Kristiansund.

The discovery was proven in 2020 in reservoir rocks from the Middle Jurassic (Garn Formation) and Early Jurassic (Tilje Formation).

Before appraisal well 6406/3-10 A was drilled, the operator estimated the resources in the discovery at between 4 and 15 million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable oil equivalent.

Prior to the drilling of 6406/3-10 A, the objective was to formation-test wildcat well 6406/3-10.

Well 6406/3-10 A was drilled as a sidetrack with the primary exploration target to delineate the oil discovery, and the secondary exploration target was to prove petroleum in the deeper-lying Åre Formation from the Early Jurassic.

Three successful formation tests have been conducted in wildcat well 6406/3-10. In the lower part of the Tilje Formation, the maximum production rate was 600 Sm3 of oil per flow day through a 36/64-inch nozzle opening.

In the upper part of the Tilje Formation, the maximum production rate was 200 Sm3 of oil per flow day through a 26/64-inch nozzle opening.

In the Garn Formation, the maximum production rate was 80 Sm3 of oil per flow day through a 24/64-inch nozzle opening. The formation tests revealed good to moderate flow properties.

Appraisal well 6406/3-10 A encountered a 7-metre oil column in the Garn Formation, with sandstone layers totalling about 55 metres with poor reservoir quality. The oil/water contact was not encountered.

An oil column of 3 metres was encountered in the Ile Formation, with sandstone layers totalling 24 metres with poor reservoir quality. The oil/water contact was not encountered.

Two oil columns totalling about 77 metres were encountered in the Tilje Formation, with sandstone layers totalling about 61 metres with poor to good reservoir quality. The oil/water contact was not encountered.

Preliminary estimates place the size of the discovery between 6.4 and 13.3 million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable oil equivalent. The licensees will consider tying the discovery into existing infrastructure in the area.

The appraisal well also encountered an approx. 260-metre gas column in the Åre Formation, with sandstone layers of about 82 metres with poor reservoir quality.

Preliminary estimates place the size of the discovery in the Åre Formation between 2 and 9 million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable oil equivalent.

Appraisal well 6406/3-10 A was not formation-tested, but extensive data acquisition and sampling have been carried out.

This is the second exploration well in production licence 836 S, which was awarded in APA2015.

Appraisal well 6406/3-10 A was drilled to a vertical depth of 4854 metres and a measured depth of 5160 meters below sea level, and was terminated in the Åre Formation from the Early Jurassic.

Water depth at the site is 313 metres. Both wildcat well 6406/3-10 and appraisal well 6406/3-10 A have been permanently plugged and abandoned.

The appraisal well was drilled by the Deepsea Aberdeen drilling facility, which will now drill development well 35/11-R-11 AH on the Vega field in production licence 090 C in the North Sea, where Wintershall Dea Norge AS is the operator.