Yesterday we saw the announcement of the Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) 2019 on the NCS, where 69 license acreages together with work obligations were presented to constellations of different exploration companies, based on their applications and the authorities evaluation of those.
Four firm wells were given as part of the work program, two in the North Sea and two in the Norwegian Sea. Here, a firm well means that the license commits to drill a well within two years. All wells are likely to prospect sandstone reservoirs.
In block 24/12, just south of the Aker BP-operated Bøyla field and one of the last year’s larger discoveries Froskelår (resources 10 – 21 million Sm3 o.e.), the new Aker BP-operated PL 1041 (with Lundin and Neptune) likely also targets injectites sourced from the Paleocene Hermod and Heimdal Formations (Fm). An earlier Statoil (Equinor, but you already knew that)-operated well 24/12-4 came in dry here in 2001. However, in 1982 Statoil drilled 24/12-2 which disappointed with only oil shows in Heimdal Fm. Deeper reservoirs are less likely, for example, the Jurassic Heather Fm tested dry with the 24/12-2.
In blocks 34/9, 12 and 35/10, between the Kvitebjørn field and the Eni -operated (now Vår Energi) 34/12-1 ‘Afrodite‘ gas/condensate discovery of 2007, Equinor together with partners Petoro and Spirit is likely targeting Brent Group (Gp) sandstones, similar to Afrodite, in PL 1049. Also, the gas discovery 35/10-2 in Mid Jurassic Tarbert Fm may indicate this to be a level of interest.
In the Norwegian Sea in blocks 6407/8 and 9, operator Equinor together with partners Chrysaor and OKEA in PL 1060 likely targets Jurassic Fangst Gp sandstones, similar to the 6407/8- 4 S ‘Galtvort’ gas discovery of 2008.
Further north, in 6506/6,9 and 6507/4,7 operator ConocoPhillips and partners Aker BP and PGNiG could see hope in the now abandoned and once largest not-developed gas-discovery on the NCS; 6506/6-1 ‘Victoria‘ from 2000, abandoned by Mobil and later by Total, reservoirs of the Jurassic Fangst and Båt Gps are likely to be the target for the new license. But do note, that the Victoria discovery with resources indicated around 20 – 60 billion standard Sm3, is shared with PL 1009 B (ConocoPhillips and PGNiG) as an additional acreage to their PL 1009 awarded last year in APA 2018. As earlier reported by geoexpro.com, PL 1009 is likely targeting Cretaceous sandstones and needs more acreage to drill their prospect which was given a firm well in the work program. The acreage is next to the Wintershall DEA-operated subsea Dvalin field, tied to the Heidrun field.
Maps made from Factmap at www.npd.no.
Text: TERJE SOLBAKK
