OMV (Norge) AS, operator of PL 537 in the Barents Sea offshore Norway, estimates that its Hanssen discovery (Sto formation) contains 20-50 million boe, largely oil.
The company’s third wildcat, 7324/7-2 Hanssen is undergoing completion. It was drilled to a vertical depth of 1,679 m in 417.5 m of water. The well was terminated in the Snadd formation of Middle Triassic age. The main objective of the well was to prove hydrocarbons in Middle Jurassic to Late Triassic reservoir rocks (Sto, Nordmela, and Fruholmen formations), with the secondary objectives in Late to Middle Triassic reservoir rocks (Snadd formation).
The well encountered a 20-25 m gross oil column in the main target (Sto formation). Once the operator performs a formation test, and the well will be permanently plugged abandoned.
The operator and its joint venture partners made the Hanssen discovery 7 km northwest of the 7324/8-1 Wisting Central oil discovery and 315 km north of Hammerfest (OGJ Online, Sept. 6, 2013). Confirmed potential for Wisting ranges 200-500 million boe.
Interests in PL537 are OMV (Norge) 25%; Tullow, Idemitsu, and Petoro, 20% each; and Statoil, 15%.
