NPD: Delineation of the Johan Sverdrup field in the North Sea – 16/2-22 S

Statoil Petroleum AS, operator of production licence 265, has concluded the drilling of appraisal well 16/2-22 S on the Johan Sverdrup oil field in the central part of the North Sea, 155 kilometres northwest from Karmøy.

The well was drilled approx. two kilometres northwest of appraisal well 16/2-9 S.

The field, which was proven in 2010, consists of reservoir rocks from the Upper Triassic to the Lower Cretaceous. Before well 16/2-22 S was drilled, the operator’s resource estimate for the field was 302 – 477 million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable oil.

The objective of the well was to prove petroleum in Upper Jurassic reservoir rocks (the Draupne formation) and to investigate pressure communication to the northern part of the Johan Sverdrup field.

The well encountered a total oil column of 16 metres, most likely in the Draupne formation, with alternating sandstone, siltstone and clay stone. The reservoir properties are moderate to poor, and they are not of the same quality as the main reservoir on Johan Sverdrup. The oil/water contact was not proven.

Based on preliminary calculations, the operator’s resource estimate for the field will not be changed. The licensees will assess the result of the well as regards a possible future development.

The well was not formation-tested, but extensive data acquisition and sampling were carried out.

16/2-22 S is the 16th exploration well in production licence 265 and the 31st on the Johan Sverdrup field. The licence was awarded in the North Sea Awards in 2001.

Appraisal well 16/2-22 S was drilled to respective measured and vertical depths of 1963 and 1952 metres below the sea surface. The well was terminated in the granitic basement. The well has been permanently plugged and abandoned. Water depth at the site is 115 metres.

The well was drilled by the Deepsea Atlantic drilling facility, which will now continue on to drill development wells on the Johan Sverdrup field.