Drilling & Completion

Aker BP cleared to drill three Barents Sea prospects

Feb. 29, 2024

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate (NOD) has authorized Aker BP to drill three exploration wells in the Barents Sea, using Saipem’s semisub Scarabeo 8.

Saipem’s Scarabeo 8 semisub drilling rig is able to manage up to six 80-T christmas trees simultaneously. — Saipem’s Scarabeo 8 semisub drilling rig is able to manage up to six 80-T
christmas trees simultaneously.

Offshore staff

OSLO, Norway — The Norwegian Offshore Directorate (NOD) has authorized Aker BP to drill three exploration wells in the Barents Sea, using Saipem’s semisub Scarabeo 8.

The line-up of prospects targeted comprises Ferdinand Nord in 421 m water depth, Hassel in 401 m of water and Viasat in 427 m.

In addition, the NOD reported that Wintershall Dea's latest appraisal well 6507/4-4 S in the Norwegian Sea has led to a modest upgrade in the resource estimate for the Adriana gas/condensate discovery, drilled in 2021 close to the company’s Dvalin Field.

New calculations suggest 4 MMcmoe to 7 MMcmoe recoverable.

The well was drilled by the Transocean Norge drilling rig.

The semisub Transocean Norge drilled the well 14 km north of the Dvalin in production license 211. It encountered a 21-m gas column in Lysing Formation sandstones.

However, the sidetrack 6507/4-4 A, designed to delineate the Sabina gas and oil discovery 6507/4-2 in the Lange Formation, had to be aborted due to technical drilling problems.

The licensees will consider tying Adriana into infrastructure in the area.

02.29.2024