Det norske seeks Draupne EIA

Offshore staff

TRONDHEIM, Norway -- The partners in licenses containing three discoveries in the Norwegian North Sea have submitted an application for an environmental impact assessment, which could lead to a joint development.

Draupne, according to operator Det norske oljeselskap, is one of the major oil finds on the Norwegian shelf in recent years, although the earliest feasible date for production is 2015. Det norske also operates the smaller Hanz and West Cable accumulations.

The three discoveries are in production licenses PL001B, 028B, and 242, and all are in the southern Viking Graben formation. The consortia for all three permits comprise Det norske (operator, 35%); Statoil, 50%; and Bayerngas Norway, 15%.

Draupne was discovered by the Bredford Dolphin in 2008, with well 16/1-9 encountering oil and gas in a 44-m. (144-ft.) thick, mid-Jurassic sandstone.

An appraisal well was drilled and production tested last year. Results suggest production wells could deliver an average of around 12,000 b/d of oil each. The tested oil was light and of good quality.

A side track well revealed that the column extends deeper than first estimated. The total oil and gas column is 150 m. (492 ft.), of which around 90 m. (295 ft.) is gas.

Hanz and West Cable were discovered respectively in 1997 and 2004, and could be tied into any facilities on Draupne.

03/16/2011