Equinor discovers hydrocarbons south of Kristin field

Equinor Energy AS will assess a new Norwegian Sea hydrocarbon discovery alongside nearby discoveries and prospects to determine follow-up activities. Preliminary estimates place the size of the discovery at 0.2-1.1 million std cu m of recoverable oil equivalent, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate said in a release May 12.  

Exploration well 6406/5-2 S, the fourth in production license (PL) 255 B, was drilled by the Deepsea Stavanger semisubmersible drilling rig about 25 km south of Kristin field in 304 m of water to a vertical depth of 4,582 m (OGJ Online, Mar. 14, 2023). It was terminated in the Ror formation from the Early Jurassic. The primary exploration target for the well was to prove petroleum in Middle and Lower Jurassic reservoir rocks (Garn, Ile and Tofte formations).

The well encountered a gas-condensate column of about 24 m in the Garn formation, 46 m of which was a sandstone reservoir with poor to moderate reservoir properties. The Garn formation had a total thickness of 60 m. The well also encountered 102 m and 140 m of sandstone reservoirs in the Ile and Tofte formations, respectively, with moderate to good reservoir quality. The reservoir was water-filled.

The well was not formation-tested, but data acquisition and sampling have been carried out. It has been permanently plugged.

The rig is now drilling a pilot hole in Equinor-operated production license 1058. 

Equinor is operator at PL 255B with 35% interest. Partners are Petroro AS (30%) and TotalEnergies EP Norge AS (35%).