Gas and condensate discovery in the Norwegian Sea (6407/5-3 S)

This wildcat well was drilled about 170 kilometres northwest of Kristiansund.

Preliminary calculations indicate the size of the discovery is between 0.2 and 0.9 million standard cubic metres (Sm³) of recoverable oil equivalent (o.e.). This corresponds to between 1.3 and 5.5 million barrels of o.e.

This is the first exploration well in  production licence 1002, which was awarded in APA 2018 (1 March 2019). The licensees in the production licence are Vår (operator) and Equinor.

Well 6407/5-3 S was drilled by the  Cosl Prospector rig.

Geological information

The objective of the well was to prove petroleum in Cretaceous reservoir rocks in the Nise Formation, as well as in Lower Jurassic reservoir rocks in the Tilje Formation.

Well 6407/5-3 S encountered gas and condensate in the upper Tilje Formation in heterolithic reservoir rocks totalling 54 metres, with moderate to poor reservoir quality. The gas/water contact was not encountered in the well.

Hydrocarbon shows were proven in the lower Tilje Formation. The well did not encounter a sandstone reservoir in the Nise Formation, but elevated gas values were recorded in the interval. The Garn, Ile and Tofte formations were also investigated, but the intervals were aquiferous and the reservoir quality was moderate to poor.

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

The well was drilled to a vertical depth of 4225 metres below sea level, and was terminated in the lower Jurassic.

Water depth at the site is 218 metres, and the well will now be permanently plugged and abandoned.