Grevling wells confirm small oil structure

Offshore staff

OSLO, Norway -- Talisman Energy Norge has completed drilling two productive delineation wells on its Grevling oil find in the Norwegian North Sea.

Grevling was discovered last year in mid-Jurassic reservoir rocks (Hugin and Sleipner formations) and the upper Triassic (the Skagerrak formation).

The location is around 16 km (9.9 mi) north of the Talisman–operated Varg field. Prior to drilling of the appraisal wells, according to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, the company estimated Grevling’s resources in the range 6-21 MMcm (37.7-132 MMbbl) of recoverable oil.

Well 15/12-23, drilled south of the discovery, found oil in a 262-m (859-ft) column in the Sleipner and Skagerrak formations, without encountering the oil/water contact. Reservoir quality was as forecast.

Talisman then drilled well 15/12-23 A further west in the structure, finding a 68-m (223-ft) oil column, again with reservoir rocks and reservoir quality as expected.

Both wells were drilled in a water depth of 85 m (279 ft) by the semisub Transocean Winner. Well 15/12-23 was formation tested, with an average flow rate of 83 cu m/d (522 b/d) of oil through a 16/64-in. nozzle.

Based on this data, NPD says, the new reserves estimate is 6-15 MMcm (37.7-94 MMbbl) of recoverable oil. The licensees in production license 038D will now examine development solutions. Partner Det norske oljeselskap says a scheme for Grevling could lead to possible recovery also of the resources in the Storskrymten discovery, 5 km (3.1 mi) to the west.

The Transocean Winner will transfer to PL 501 in the North Sea to spud wildcat 16/2-6 for Lundin Petroleum.

07/20/2010