Lundin group discovers oil on Utsira high western flank

A group led by Lundin Petroleum AB has made an oil discovery on the western flank of the Utsira high 15 km south of Edvard Grieg field in the Central North Sea offshore Norway.

Lundin Petroleum as operator plans to production-test the 16/4-6S exploratory well in 101 m of water on the Luno II prospect in PL359.

The well drilled through a section of close to 200 m of sand with a high net-to-gross content and proved a gross oil column in excess of 40 m. The well encountered an oil-water contact at 1,950 m below mean sea level. The oil is light and of good quality.

Pressure data indicate that the petroleum system in Luno II is different from that seen in Edvard Grieg and Johan Sverdrup fields, Lundin Petroleum said. A comprehensive coring, logging, and fluid sampling program has been performed.

Ashley Heppenstall, president and chief executive officer of Lundin Petroleum, said, “We are very pleased that Luno II appears to be another significant discovery on the Utsira high. The existence of a thick reservoir section at this location is excellent news. The reservoir quality, whilst not the same as Johan Sverdrup, appears good and will now be tested. We expect to provide a range of recoverable resources from the discovery after testing is completed in 2-3 weeks time.”

After the test program, the Bredford Dolphin semisubmersible will be moved to Lundin Norway operated PL501 to continue the appraisal drilling on the Johan Sverdrup discovery.

Lundin Norway is operator of the PL359 with a 40% interes, and Statoil Petroleum ASA and Premier Oil PLC have 30% each.