Offshore staff

OSLO, Norway – Wintershall is completing the drilling of an appraisal well on its Maria oil and gas discovery in the Norwegian Sea.

The semisubBorgland Dolphin drilled well 6407/1-5 S (Maria North) in 297 m (974 ft) water depth in license 475 BS, 8 km (4.9 mi) northeast of the 2010 discovery and 20 km (12.4 mi) east of the producing Kristin field.

According to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, the delineation well encountered a 39-m (128-ft) thick oil column in the Garn formation with reservoir quality as expected.

The oil/water contact was the same as in the discovery well, with pressure data indicating north to south communication. A formation test over a short reservoir interval yielded maximum production rates of 140 cm/d (4,944 cf/d) of oil and 20,300 cm/d (716,888 cf/d) of gas.

Partner Centrica says analysis suggests reserves at the top of the range attributed to the discovery well (60-120 MMboe of oil and 10-30 MMboe of gas).

The licensees plan to assess development solutions.

5/22/2012