Appraisal well confirms oil and gas discovery in the Norwegian Sea
The appraisal well was drilled by Transocean Norge (photo: Transocean)
12/14/2023 Wintershall Dea’s appraisal well 6406/3-12S on the “Bergknapp” discovery confirmed the earlier 6406/3-10 oil discovery as well as the 6406/3-10A gas discovery in the Norwegian Sea, 200 kilometres north of Kristiansund.
This is the third well in production licence 836 S, which was awarded in the Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) in 2015.
The “Bergknapp” oil discovery was proven in 2020, and the gas discovery was proven in 2021.
The appraisal well confirms the size of the oil discovery, and the current estimate is between 7-12 million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable oil equivalent (44-75 million barrels). The gas discovery estimate is somewhat reduced, to 1-4 million Sm3.
The licensees will now consider connecting both discoveries to existing infrastructure in the area.
The well was drilled using the Transocean Norge.
Geological information
The 6406/3-10 oil discovery (Bergknapp) was proven in reservoir rocks from the Middle Jurassic (Garn Formation) and the Early Jurassic (Tilje Formation) in 2020. The 6406/3-10 A gas discovery (Åre) was proven in reservoir rocks from the Early Jurassic (Åre Formation) in 2021. Before well 6406/3-12 S was drilled, the operator’s resource estimate for the oil discovery was between 6.4-13.3 million Sm3 of recoverable oil equivalent, and between 2-9 million Sm3 of recoverable oil equivalent for the gas discovery.
The primary exploration target for the well was to investigate the development of the reservoir and reservoir quality in the Tilje Formation in 6406/3-10 (Bergknapp). The secondary target was to delineate the 6406/3-10 A (Åre) gas discovery.
Appraisal well 6406/3-12 S encountered a 59-metre oil column in the Ile Formation, in sandstone layers totalling around 33 metres with poor to moderate reservoir quality. The oil/water contact was not encountered. An oil column of about 146 metres was encountered in the Tilje Formation in sandstone layers totalling about 77 metres with poor to good reservoir quality. The oil/water contact was not encountered.
In addition, the appraisal well encountered a 108-metre oil column in the upper part of the Åre Formation in sandstone layers totalling around 28 metres with poor to moderate reservoir quality. The oil/water contact was not encountered. A 56-metre gas column was encountered in the lower part of the Åre Formation in sandstone layers of around 15 metres with poor reservoir quality. The gas/water contact was not proven.
The licensees will consider connecting both discoveries to existing infrastructure in the area.
The well was not formation-tested, but extensive data acquisition and sampling have been carried out.
Appraisal well 6406/3-12 S was drilled to a vertical depth of 4729 metres below sea level, and was terminated in the Åre Formation from the Early Jurassic.
Water depth at the site is 308 metres. Appraisal well 6406/3-12 S has been permanently plugged and abandoned.
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Updated: 1/4/2024