StatoilHydro makes gas discovery in Norwegian Sea

Offshore staff

STAVANGER -- StatoilHydro has struck gas during exploration drilling in production license 348 in the Norwegian Sea northwest of Kristiansund. The discovery well 6407/8-4 S is located 30 km (19 mi) northeast of the Njord field and 9 km (5 mi) northwest of the Draugen field.

The well has confirmed the existence of gas in Jurassic sandstone. The size of the discovery has not been determined, and a sidetrack well will be drilled right after the current well has been completed to further identify the area.

West Alpha drilled the exploration in 266 m (872 ft) of water to a vertical depth of 2,632 m (8,635 ft).

"The purpose of the well was to confirm the existence of hydrocarbons in mid/lower Jurassic rocks in the southern segment of the Galtvort prospect," says Ørjan Birkeland, StatoilHydro's VP for infrastructure-led exploration in the North. "It is very positive that we again strike hydrocarbons in these areas where finds can quickly be put onstream."

05/21/2008