Aker BP ASA, operator of production license 1085, has concluded the drilling of wildcat well 2/8-19. The well was drilled about 10 kilometers north of the Valhall field in the Norwegian Sea, and 270 kilometers southwest of Lista.

The primary exploration target for well 2/8-19 was to prove petroleum in reservoir rocks in Lower Pliocene clinoforms (Nordland Group). The secondary exploration target was to prove petroleum in reservoir rocks in Middle Pliocene clinoforms (Nordland Group).

In the primary exploration target, well 2/8-19 encountered a 9-metre oil column in a sandstone reservoir totaling 56 meters in the Nordland Group. The oil column was in a reservoir with moderate to good reservoir quality. The oil/water contact was proven at 703 meters below sea level. Traces of petroleum were also observed in sandstone with moderate to poor reservoir quality deeper than the proven oil/water contact.

In the secondary exploration target, the well encountered a 15-meter gas column in a sandstone reservoir. The reservoir totaled 68 meters, and reservoir quality varied from good (top) to poor (bottom). The gas/water contact was proven at a depth of 563 meters below sea level.

Preliminary estimates place the size of the discovery between 0.6 and 1.9 million Sm3 of recoverable oil equivalent. The licensees will assess the discovery as regards potential further delineation.

The well was not formation-tested, but extensive data acquisition and sampling were carried out.

This is the first exploration well in production license 1085. The license was awarded in APA 2020.

Well 2/8-19 was drilled to a vertical depth of 806 meters below sea level and was terminated in the Nordland Group in the Pliocene.

Water depth at the site is 69 meters. The well has been permanently plugged and abandoned.

Well 2/8-19 was drilled by the Maersk Invincible drilling facility, which is now headed to Denmark for classification.

Source: Norwegian Petroleum Directorate