Oil, gas discovery proves additional resources in the Johan Castberg area
Statoil, with partners Eni Norge and Petoro, made an oil and gas discovery in the Skavl prospect in PL532, close to the Johan Castberg area in the Norwegian Barents Sea, approximately 149 miles (240 km) from Hammerfest.
Well 7220/7-2 S, drilled by Seadrill’s West Hercules semisubmersible, has proven a 22-meter gas column and a 23-meter oil column in the Jurassic Tubåen formation, and a 133-meter oil column in the Triassic Fruholmen formation.
The well, which is located in the Skavl prospect, has been drilled 3 miles (5 km) south of the Johan Castberg area. It was drilled in approximately 1,145 ft (349 meters) of water and reached a target depth of 5,577 ft (1,700 meters).
“Skavl was the third of the four wells in the Johan Castberg area we have on our drilling plan this year. The first two wells, Nunatak and Iskrystall, proved only gas, but we know from experience that it takes stamina and persistence to succeed in the Barents Sea,” Gro G. Haatvedt, Statoil’s senior vice president for exploration on the Norwegian continental shelf, said.
The well has confirmed good quality oil and gas in Jurassic and Triassic sandstone, with volumes of recoverable oil estimated at between 20 and 50 million barrels.
“It is positive that we have proven additional resources in the Johan Castberg area. We will now consider whether the discovery can be included in the Johan Castberg field development. At the same time we are pursuing our effort of maturing the resource base and the field development plans for the project. Changes in the tax framework is one of the elements that has made the project more challenging,” Erik Strand Tellefsen, Statoil’s vice president for field development in northern Norway, said.
Following completion of Skavl, the drilling rig will move 10 miles (16 km) north where it will continue its exploration campaign in the execution of an additional exploration well on the prospect of Kramsnø.
“We are working closely with our license partners to establish a plan for further exploration drilling in the Johan Castberg area. The Drivis prospect has already been approved for drilling in 2014, and we are currently evaluating additional opportunities,” Ms Haatvedt said.
Statoil is the operator of production license PL532 with a 50% stake; the remaining shares are held by Eni Norge (30%) and Petoro (20%).
