Det norske resumes drilling Draupne

Offshore staff

TRONDHEIM, Norway -- The semisubmersible Songa Delta is drilling appraisal well 16/1-11 on the Draupne oil and gas discovery in the Norwegian North Sea. Well 16/1-11, operated by Det norske oljeselskap, is in production license 001B.

The field was discovered last April via well 16/1-9, which encountered hydrocarbons in a 44-m (144-ft) thick Middle Jurassic sandstone. Det norske assesses recoverable resources at 4-5 MMcmoe, although the final size and commercial potential will depend on the results of the current well and further evaluations.

Det norske also continues to review options for a joint development with two other finds in this area, Hanz in PL028B and West Cable in PL242, in which the company has interests. Another possibility could be a clustered development linked to future infrastructure around Lundin’s nearby Luno discovery.

Partners in license PL001B are Statoil (50 %) and Bayerngas (15 %)

02/25/2010