Lundin Norway AS, operator of production licence 501, is in the process of completing the drilling of wildcat well 16/2-6. The well was drilled about 25 km east of the 16/1-8 (Luno) oil discovery in the North Sea.

The well's primary exploration target was to prove petroleum in Upper Jurassic reservoir rocks (the Hugin formation). The secondary exploration target was to prove petroleum in reservoir rocks in the Lower Paleocene (the Ty formation). Oil was proven in a 17-metre column in the Draupne and Hugin formation in the Upper to Middle Jurassic, while the Ty formation lacked reservoir development. Preliminary estimates of proven recoverable oil are 15 million standard cubic metres (Sm3) with an upside of about 60 million Sm3, which will require further delineation in the production licence. The gas/oil ratio is calculated at 40 Sm3/Sm3.

A successful formation test has been performed. The production rate was 780 Sm3 of oil per flow day through a 52/64-inch nozzle. The test showed very good flow properties.

The licensees in production licence 501 are considering further rapid delineation drilling on the discovery.

The well is the first exploration well in production licence 501, which was awarded in APA 2008.

The well was drilled to a vertical depth of 2132 metres below the sea surface, and was terminated in the Zechstein group in the Upper Permian.

The water depth at the site is 115 metres. The well will now be permanently plugged and abandoned.

Well 16/2-6 was drilled by the Transocean Winner, which will now proceed to production licence 338 in the North Sea to drill wildcat well 16/1-14, where Lundin Norway AS is the operator.

Participating companies Lundin Norway AS (operator) 40% Statoil Petroleum AS 40% Maersk Oil Norway AS 20%

Tags: Lundin Petroleum