Two Norwegian appraisal wells on a previous hydrocarbon discovery near the Gjoa Field have been plugged and abandoned, and drilling results will be evaluated further.

The 35/9-11S and 35/9-11A wells in Norwegian license PL420 were drilled to further delineate a 35/9-6 S discovery well drilled in 2010 which encountered oil, gas and condensate, and was originally estimated to contain 2 MMcm and 10 MMcm of recoverable oil equivalent.

The delineation wells, operated by RWE Dea Norge, have been drilled with the Leiv Eiriksson semisubmersible 1.7 km (1 mile) southwest of the original discovery, aimed at proving additional reserves and to reduce uncertainty over reservoir thickness and properties.

Both appraisal wells encountered oil in Heather, Brent, and Drake formations, in an upper Cook formation and a Statfjord Group in a Jurassic reservoir, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate stated. But reservoir quality in the Heather, Cook and Statfjord formations is poor. While the reservoirs have different pressure regimes, water was encountered in a lower Cook formation. No oil/water contact was encountered in other formations.

Well data and samples were acquired, and pressure data indicates no communication with the northern part of the original 35/9-6 S discovery, the NPD stated. Resources in the discovery will now be evaluated using results from the new wells.

Offshore