Wintershall Norge AS has made an oil discovery near the Vega Sør Field in the northeastern North Sea, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) said in a news release Dec. 10.
Wildcat 35/11-18’s target was to prove petroleum in Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks (the Brent Group) and Upper Jurassic reservoir rocks (sandstones in the Heather Formation), NPD said. Encountering a 275-m thickness of moderate to good reservoir quality in the Brent group, the well proved light oil in the Tarbert and Oseberg formation with columns of 11 m and 3 m, respectively.
In addition, Wintershall said appraisal well 35/11-18 A—which investigated the extent of the reservoir and the hydrocarbon columns—was drilled about 450 m south of the discovery well. The appraisal well proved gas and oil in two Upper Jurassic (the Heather formation) sandstones with net thicknesses of 33 m and 24 m, respectively, with poor to good reservoir quality, the NPD said.
The well encountered oil throughout the Brent group, which is 270 m, with moderate to good reservoir quality and encountered a 46-m column of light oil in the Lower Jurassic (the Cook formation), NPD said in the release. Preliminary estimates place the size of the discovery between 1 and 3 million standard cubic meters of recoverable oil.
Extensive data collection and sampling have been carried out, including two formation tests in the Cook and Oseberg formation in 35/11-18 A. The tests show good flow properties with stable flow pressure and low pressure drop, with good permeability, according to the release.
Well 35/11-18 was drilled to a measured depth of 3,759 m below the sea surface, while the appraisal well was drilled to a measured depth of 4,020 m below the sea surface. Water depth at the site is 366 m. The wells have been permanently plugged and abandoned. The partners in PL 248 will now evaluate the results, NPD said.
Recommended Reading
Chevron Hunts Upside for Oil Recovery, D&C Savings with Permian Pilots
2024-02-06 - New techniques and technologies being piloted by Chevron in the Permian Basin are improving drilling and completed cycle times. Executives at the California-based major hope to eventually improve overall resource recovery from its shale portfolio.
Exxon Versus Chevron: The Fight for Hess’ 30% Guyana Interest
2024-03-04 - Chevron's plan to buy Hess Corp. and assume a 30% foothold in Guyana has been complicated by Exxon Mobil and CNOOC's claims that they have the right of first refusal for the interest.
NAPE: Chevron’s Chris Powers Talks Traditional Oil, Gas Role in CCUS
2024-02-12 - Policy, innovation and partnership are among the areas needed to help grow the emerging CCUS sector, a Chevron executive said.
Exxon Mobil Green-lights $12.7B Whiptail Project Offshore Guyana
2024-04-12 - Exxon Mobil’s sixth development in the Stabroek Block will add 250,000 bbl/d capacity when it starts production in 2027.
Exxon Ups Mammoth Offshore Guyana Production by Another 100,000 bbl/d
2024-04-15 - Exxon Mobil, which took a final investment decision on its Whiptail development on April 12, now estimates its six offshore Guyana projects will average gross production of 1.3 MMbbl/d by 2027.