Operators discover Norwegian shelf oil and gas

Offshore staff

To date, operators have spudded six wildcat wells on the Norwegian continental shelf, completed four wells with two discoveries, and continue drilling two wells. The discoveries include a Norwegian Sea gas discovery and a North Sea oil discovery.

In the Norwegian Sea, A/S Norske Shell has proven gas from Jurassic-age sandstone in wildcat well 6406/9-1. This is the largest Norwegian Shelf gas discovery since 1997, according the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate. The well may contain 60 bcm. The company plans an appraisal well in 2006.

In the North Sea, Hydro has proven oil with gas from Jurassic-age sandstone in wildcat well 35/11-13. The company drilled the well on a prospect due north of Fram field in an area with production infrastructure.

Statoil is drilling wildcat 6302/6-1 on the Tulipan prospect in the Møre basin and Hydro is drilling well 6605/8-1 on the Stetind prospect in the Vøring basin. Both operators are drilling in relatively unexplored areas.

At the beginning of the year, Norwegian shelf licensees reported drilling plans for 25-35 wildcat wells from mobile rigs and five-10 wildcat wells from fixed installations, according to the NPD. The directorate does not expect the companies to drill all the wildcats because of a tight drilling rig market. In addition, there have been drilling operations delays in the first half of the year. Twenty-three mobile rigs are qualified to drill on the Norwegian continental shelf.

Several new wells will be spudded in the second half of 2005. Drilling activity is planned in the Barents Sea, in the Norwegian Sea's deepwater areas, and in the North Sea's unconfirmed plays.

"The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate believes it is important that the oil industry increases its efforts to bring in more rigs, so that exploration activity on the Norwegian shelf can increase," General Gunnar Berge, director, NPD, says.

6/29/05