Wintershall hits target off Mid-Norway

Offshore staff

ABERDEEN, UK – Wintershall Norge has discovered oil in the Maria prospect in Mid-Norway’s Halten Terrace region.

According to partner Faroe Petroleum, well 6406/3-8 T2 intersected a thicker than expected gross oil column of 210ft (64m). Preliminary analysis suggests in-place volumes of 250-and 520 MMboe of oil and associated gas, and recoverable reserves estimated at 75-155 MMboe.

The location is close to development infrastructure, in between the Smørbukk Sør structure, 3 km (1.8 mi) to the northwest); the Trestakk oil discovery, 5 km (3.1 mi) to the south; and the producing Tyrihans gas-condensate field, 6 km (3.7 mi) to the southeast.

Maria, in blocks 6407/1 and 6406/3, comprise two segments, Maria South and Maria North, respectively up dip to the south west and north east of the 1988 exploration well 6406/3-5 well.

The new discovery well is on Maria South, and also is the first well on license 475BS, awarded in Norway’s APA 2008 licensing round. It was drilled to a vertical depth of 4,216m (13,832 ft) in the lower Jurassic Tilje formation.

Oil was proven in the main target Garn formation in Jurassic sandstones. Early log analysis indicates a better than expected reservoir with good properties, including a high net to gross ratio. The oil also appears to have similar properties to Trestakk’s, at around 40º API. There has been an extensive program of data collection and sampling, Faroe adds, including logging, fluid sampling and mini-drillstem tests.

The semisub Songa Delta performed the operation in a water depth of 303 m (94 ft). The well is now being P&A’d.

07/22/2010