ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS and partner PGNiG Upstream Norway (35%) have spudded well 6507/4-1 in an attempt to find hydrocarbons in Cretaceous reservoirs. It is the first exploration well in production licence 1009.
The well is just two kilometres north of the Victoria discovery, which is also under licence by ConocoPhillips. Discovery HPHT well 6506/6-1 was drilled in 2000 by Mobil and found dry gas with 10% CO2 in the Middle and Lower Jurassic Garn, Ile, Tofte, Tilje and Åre Formations, and was once regarded as one of the largest undeveloped discoveries on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
Preparations were made to perform a DST in 6506/6-1, but after setting and cementing the liner, gas was detected during circulations which indicated leak from somewhere behind the liner. It proved impossible to find the leak or seal the liner and a decision was made to abandon the test.
In 2009, Total drilled appraisal well 6506/9-1 to further evaluate the Victoria discovery but did not further develop the field due to poor reservoir properties and high CO2 content.
About five kilometres west of the currently drilled exploration well, Maersk drilled 6506/6-2 in 2013, targeting Upper Cretaceous sandstones of the Lysing Formation. The well encountered only one of four prognosed sands although the reservoir rocks, thickness and reservoir quality was as expected. Gross thickness was 90 metre with a net/gross of ca 0.42 with average porosity of 18%. However, the well was dry.
More recently though, Aker BP found gas in the Lysing Formation when drilling 6506/5-1S (Nidhogg) this year. The preliminary size of the discovery has been estimated to be between 6 and 15 mmboe of recoverable gas.
HENK KOMBRINK
