Gas/condensate discovery in the North Sea (15/5-8 S and A)

 Wildcat wells 15/5-8 S and 15/5-8 A were drilled 7 kilometres north of the Eirin field (15/5-2) and 240 kilometres west of Stavanger in production licence 1140.

The preliminary calculation of the size of the discovery in "Lofn" is 3.5 – 10 million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable oil equivalent (o.e.). This corresponds to 22-63 million barrels o.e..

The preliminary calculation of the size of the discovery in "Langemann" is 1 – 8 million  Sm3 of recoverable o.e. This corresponds to 6-50 million barrels.

Production licence 1140 was awarded in 2022 (Awards in pre-defined areas 2021). 15/5-8 S and 15/5-8 A are the first and second exploration wells to be drilled in the production licence.

Moving forward, the licensees will consider the opportunities to develop the discoveries towards existing infrastructure in the area.

The wells were drilled by the Deepsea Atlantic rig.

Geological information

The primary exploration target for wells 15/5-8 S and 15/5-8 A was to prove petroleum in two separate prospects in Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks in the Hugin Formation and Triassic reservoir rocks in the Skagerrak Formation.

Wildcat well 15/5-8 S encountered gas/condensate-bearing sandstone layers in the Hugin Formation with a thickness of 116 metres, 36 metres of which were sandstone layers with moderate to very good reservoir quality. The gas/water contact was not encountered.

In the second exploration target in the Skagerrak Formation, the well encountered a 173-metre thick reservoir interval, 59 metres of which were sandstone layers with moderate to very poor reservoir quality. The reservoir was aquiferous.

The well was drilled to respective measured and vertical depths of 4636 metres and 4319 metres below sea level in the Skagerrak Formation.

Wildcat well 15/5-8 A encountered gas/condensate-bearing sandstone layers in the Hugin Formation with a thickness of 125 metres, 31 metres of which were sandstone layers with moderate to good reservoir quality. A possible gas/water contact was interpreted between 4141 – 4148 metres below sea level.

In the second exploration target in the Skagerrak Formation, the well encountered a 95-metre thick reservoir interval, 17 metres of which were sandstone layers with very poor reservoir quality. The reservoir was aquiferous.

The well was drilled to respective measured and vertical depths of 4932 metres and 4357 metres below sea level in the Skagerrak Formation.

The well was not formation-tested, but extensive volumes of data and samples were collected.
Water depth at the site is 107 metres, and the well has been permanently plugged and abandoned.