New Gas Find in the Norwegian Sea

Gas has been proven by StatoilHydro in exploration well 6507/3-7 Idun North in the Norwegian Sea. Currently being completed, the well is located two kilometres northwest of the Idun find and 12 kilometres north of the Skarv find.

The purpose of the well was to prove petroleum in the “Fangst” and “Båt” groups in middle and lower Jurassic rocks. The well proved gas in the “Fangst” group. The underlying “Båt” group was filled with water.

“Based on preliminary calculations, the size of the find is estimated at between 0.6 and 3 billion standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable gas,” said Knut Harald Nygård, who is heading StatoilHydro’s exploration activities near existing fields in shallow waters in the northern part of the Norwegian Sea.

“There is also a potential of additional volumes, and further appraisal of the find will be considered.”

The well was not formation tested, but extensive data gathering has been carried out.

“StatoilHydro and its partners in the production license will consider tying the gas find back to the production vessel for Skarv and Idun when it is in place,” said Nygård.

This is the first exploration well in the carved out production licence 159D. The licensees are the operator StatoilHydro with a 60% interest and E.ON Ruhrgas with 40%. In the original production license 159 six exploration wells have already been drilled.

Well 6507/3-7 was drilled at a water depth of 377 metres by the Ocean Vanguard rig. Drilled to a vertical depth of 3,833 metres below sea level, the well was concluded in the Åre formation of the lower Jurassic age. The well is being permanently plugged and abandoned.