Wintershall Dea completed the second appraisal well on the Bergknapp/Åre discoveries in the Norwegian Sea, moving the projects closer to development. The team is now evaluating the potential tie in to existing infrastructure.
Appraisal well 6406/3-12S, completed by the Transocean Norge rig in early December, was drilled to minimize volumetric and subsurface uncertainties in the Bergknapp discovery, including the underlying discovery in the Åre formation.
The well was drilled to a vertical depth of 4,729 m subsea. It was terminated in the Åre formation from the Early Jurassic. Water depth at the site is 308 m. The well was not formation-tested, but extensive data acquisition and sampling have been carried out.
The appraisal well encountered a 59-m oil column in the Ile formation, in sandstone layers totaling around 33 m with poor to moderate reservoir quality. The oil-water contact was not encountered. An oil column of about 146 m was encountered in the Tilje formation in sandstone layers totaling about 77 m with poor to good reservoir quality. The oil-water contact was not encountered.
In addition, the appraisal well encountered a 108-m oil column in the upper part of the Åre formation in sandstone layers totaling around 28 m with poor to moderate reservoir quality. The oil-water contact was not encountered. A 56-m gas column was encountered in the lower part of the Åre formation in sandstone layers of around 15 m with poor reservoir quality. The gas-water contact was not proven.
The Bergknapp light oil discovery in the Garn (Middle Jurassic), Ile, and Tilje (Early Jurassic) formations (44-75 MMboe) was made in 2020 and subsequently appraised by re-entering and sidetracking the discovery well in 2021 (OGJ Online, Apr. 7, 2020; Sept. 7, 2021). The sidetrack well also extended into the deeper Åre formation, where additional volumes of light oil, gas and condensate were discovered (6-25 MMboe).
Bergknapp/Åre lie in license PL836S, about 8 km west of Wintershall-operated Maria field, which is tied back to Equinor Energy AS’ Kristin platform.
The rig, under a long-term contract for Wintershall Dea and OMV, will now move to the nearby Wintershall-operated PL211 CS license, where it will drill another appraisal well on the Adriana and Sabina discoveries.
Wintershall Dea is the operator of the PL836S Bergknapp license with a 40% interest. Partners Equinor and DNO Norge each hold 30%.