Exploration well 15/8-3 S was drilled about 5 kilometres southeast of the Utgard field in the North Sea and 250 kilometres southwest of Stavanger.

The preliminary calculation of the size of the discovery is 1 – 4.5 million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable oil equivalent (o.e.). This corresponds to 6.3 - 28.3 million barrels of recoverable o.e.

The well was drilled by the Deepsea Atlantic rig.

Production licence 1137 was awarded in 2022 (Awards in pre-defined areas 2021), and 15/8-3 S is the first exploration well drilled in the licence.

Moving forward, the licensees will consider the opportunities to develop the discovery as a tie-back to existing infrastructure in the area.

Geological information

The well's primary exploration target was to prove petroleum in Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks in the upper part of the Hugin Formation (Vestland Group). The secondary exploration target was to prove petroleum in Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks in the lower part of the Hugin Formation (Vestland Group).

Well 15/8‑3 S encountered condensate-rich gas in sandstone layers in the upper part of the Hugin Formation with an overall thickness of 148 metres, 57 metres of which consist of sandstone layers with moderate to good reservoir quality. The well proved a hydrocarbon column of about 95 metres, but the gas/water contact was not encountered. The secondary exploration target in the lower part of the Hugin Formation was aquiferous with poor reservoir quality and a thickness of 53 metres.  

The well was not formation-tested, but extensive volumes of data and samples were collected.

Well 15/8-3 S was drilled to a vertical depth of 4282 metres below sea level and a measured depth of 4359 metres, and was terminated in the Rattray Formation in the Middle Jurassic.

Water depth at the site is 110 metres, and the well has been permanently plugged and abandoned.