Avaldsnes extension probe under way

Offshore staff

STOCKHOLM, Sweden – The semisub Transocean Leader has started drilling appraisal/exploration well 16/2-8 on the Aldous Major South structure in the Norwegian North Sea.

Statoil is operator of the well and surrounding PL265 license.

Aldous Major South structure is thought to be a western extension of the Lundin Petroleum-operated PL501 Avaldsnes discovery. According to Lundin, which is a partner in this latest well, the primary target is in Upper and Mid-Jurassic sandstones, with secondary targets in the Cretaceous Shetland Group chalk and Triassic Skagerrak formation.

Planned TD is 2,085 m (6,840 ft) below mean sea level. The well should take 45 days to drill.

07/19/2011