Offshore staff
OSLO, Norway -- Wintershall Norge has P&A’d its latest Norwegian wildcat as a dry hole.
Well 35/12-3 S was drilled by the Songa Delta on the Gnatcacther prospect in 352 m (1,155 ft) water depth. The location was 115 km (71.5 mi) northwest of Bergen in license PL 378, and 15 km (9.3 mi) north of the Troll field.
According to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, the aim was to prove petroleum in Upper and Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks (Sognefjord and Fensfjord formations, and the Brent group). These targets were achieved, however only minor hydrocarbon shows were present in the Upper Jurassic.
This was the second exploration well in the license, which was awarded under Norway’s APA 2005 licensing round. The well was drilled to a vertical depth of 2,729 m (8,953 ft) below the sea surface, and terminated in the Etive formation in the Brent group.
Songa Delta now heads to PL 434 in the Norwegian Sea to drill wildcat 6507/8-8 for Nexen Exploration Norge. According to Wintershall’s partner Premier, the rig will return in spring to PL 378 to drill an appraisal well on the Grosbeak discovery.
02/01/2011