Total group finds Jurassic, Triassic gas in Barents

A group led by Total E&P Norge AS has drilled a discovery in the Barents Sea off Norway with 350 bcf-1.7 tcf of recoverable gas by preliminary estimate, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate said.

The 7225/3-1 went to 4,150 m in the Permian Orn formation in 376 m of water 250 km north of Melkoya as the first well on the license. Its primary exploration target was the Triassic Snadd and Kobbe formations, the secondary targets were the Middle Jurassic Sto, Triassic Havert, and Permian Bjarmeland formations.

The well proved gas in Kobbe with a 400-m interval in rocks of varying reservoir quality and in the Havert in two intervals of 80 m and 90 m, respectively, in poorly developed reservoir rocks. It also encountered gas in the Sto and Snadd formations.

It flowed 6.4 MMcfd of gas through a 44/64-in. choke from the upper Kobbe on a formation test. The gas contains small amounts of carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and nitrogen. The well’s results will be included in the ongoing evaluation of ”Norvarg” to establish the size and extent of the gas discoveries.

Participanting with Total in the 611 sq km license are Rocksource ASA, North Energy ASA, and Det Norske Oljeselskap AS.

The West Phoenix semisubmersible will move to Troll field in the North Sea to drill for Statoil Petroleum AS, NPD said.