Sokkeldirektoratet

Gas/condensate and oil discovery west of the Troll field in the North Sea

deepsea-yantai-odfjell-drilling.jpg

The wells were drilled by the Deepsea Yantai drilling facility. Photo: Odfjell Drilling.

7/19/2023 Wellesley Petroleum AS, operator of production licence 1148, has concluded the drilling of wildcat wells 35/10-10 S and 35/10-10 A.

The wells were drilled about 25 km northwest of the Troll field and 150 km northwest of Bergen.

The primary exploration target for well 35/10-10 S was to prove petroleum in Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks in the Etive and Oseberg formations in the Brent Group. The secondary exploration target for well 35/10-10 S was to prove petroleum in the Early Jurassic Cook Formation.

The objective of appraisal well 35/10-10 A was to encounter the petroleum-water contact in a lower position on the structure, and to collect liquid samples from the aquifer.

Well 35/10-10 S encountered a 210-metre gas-condensate column in the Ness, Etive and Oseberg formations, of which a total of 90 metres was sandstone reservoir with poor to moderate reservoir quality. In the Cook Formation, the well encountered a 70-metre gas-condensate column, of which a total of 23 metres was sandstone reservoir with poor reservoir quality. A 13-metre oil column was also encountered in the Early Jurassic Amundsen Formation in the Dunlin Group, whereof a total of 13 metres was sandstone reservoir with poor reservoir quality.

Well 35/10-10 A was drilled lower on the structure, 900 metres west of the main well and encountered a 240-metre gas-condensate column in the Ness, Etive, Oseberg and Cook formations, whereof 50 metres was sandstone reservoir with poor to moderate reservoir quality. Water was encountered in the Cook Formation from a vertical depth of 4158 metres below sea level.

Preliminary estimates indicate the size of the discovery is between 9 and 46 million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable oil equivalent. The licensees will initiate early-phase development studies, and are considering additional appraisal wells in the discovery.

Well 35/10-10 S was drilled to a vertical depth of 4030 metres below sea level, and was terminated in the Amundsen Formation in the Early Jurassic. Extensive data acquisition and sampling have been carried out.

Well 35/10-10 A was drilled to a vertical depth of 4212 metres below sea level, and was terminated in the Cook Formation in the Early Jurassic.

These are the first and second exploration wells in production licence 1148, awarded in APA2021.

Water depth at the site is 360 metres. The wells have been permanently plugged and abandoned.

The wells were drilled by the Deepsea Yantai drilling facility, which will now drill wildcat well 25/7-11 S in production licence 984 in the North Sea, where DNO Norge AS is the operator.

Map showing the location of well 35/10-10 S and 35/10-10 A.

 

Contact

Ola Anders Skauby

Director Communication, public affairs and emergency response

Tel: +47 905 98 519

Updated: 7/19/2023

Latest news

Oil and gas condensate discovery in the Norwegian Sea (6506/12-PB-3 H)
8/29/2025 Equinor Energy AS, operator of production licence 094, has proven petroleum in wildcat well 6506/12-PB-3 H.
The Norwegian shelf – a safe harbour in stormy seas
8/27/2025 The Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) is positioned to remain a competitive producer and exporter of oil and gas for many years to come.
Oil and gas discovery near the Fram field in the North Sea (35/11-31 S)
8/25/2025 Equinor Energy AS, the operator of production licence 090, has discovered oil and gas in wildcat well 35/11-31 S.
Oil discovery in the Yggdrasil area (25/1-14, 25/1-14 A, B, C, D, E, F and G)
8/22/2025 Aker BP, the operator of production licences 873, 873 B and 1249, has concluded its Omega Alfa exploration campaign in the area around Yggdrasil in the North Sea.
Production figures July 2025
8/20/2025 Preliminary production figures for July 2025 show an average daily production of 2 159 000 barrels of oil, NGL and condensate.
Looking for the new edition of the continental shelf map?
8/15/2025 The shelf map has now been updated as of July 2025. It shows fields, discoveries, awarded areas, and areas opened for exploration on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).
Drilling permit for wellbore 2/6-8 S
8/11/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted DNO Norge AS drilling permit for wellbore 2/6-8 S in production licence 1086.
Johan Castberg plays a key role in the Barents Sea
8/8/2025 The Johan Castberg field will be producing oil for many years to come, and new discoveries can be incorporated. The field is important for further development in the Barents Sea.
Production figures June 2025
7/22/2025 Preliminary production figures for June 2025 show an average daily production of 1 854 000 barrels of oil, NGL and condensate.
Gas/condensate discovery in the Norwegian Sea (6406/11-2 S)
7/21/2025 Vår Energi and its partners have made a gas/condensate discovery in the “Vidsyn” prospect.