Lundin Petroleum AB, through its wholly owned subsidiary Lundin Norway AS, announced in a press release that Johan Sverdrup appraisal well 16/3-7, located in the southeastern part of PL501 in the North Sea, is completed.

Appraisal well 16/3-7 was drilled approximately 3 km (1.9 miles) southeast of well 16/3-5 and 4 km (2.5 miles) southwest of exploration well 16/3-2. The purpose of the well was to determine depth to the top of the reservoir, reservoir thickness, and oil-water contact, according to the release.

The well encountered a gross reservoir thickness of 50 m (164 ft), slightly deeper than what was expected. The reservoir consists of 14 m (46 ft) of excellent-quality sandstone of late Jurassic age and 36 m (118 ft) of dolomitic carbonates of Permian age with good reservoir properties, according to the release. The well showed a good common water gradient in both the sandstone and carbonates, demonstrating good communication between the two reservoirs. The oil-water contact was not proven in the well. However, oil and water were sampled in the uppermost part of the reservoir, at 1,925 m (6,316 ft) below mean sea level, which indicates an oil-water contact close to this level and that the well was positioned near the edge of the field.

The well was drilled to a total depth of 2,075 m (6,808 ft) below mean sea level into sediments of Permian age. A comprehensive coring and logging program has been successfully completed, Lundin said. The well was drilled using the semisubmersible drilling rig Bredford Dolphin. The rig will now drill appraisal well 16/5-5 in PL410, also operated by Lundin Norway.

Lundin Norway is the operator of PL501 with a 40% interest. The partners are Statoil Petroleum AS with a 40% interest and Maersk Oil Norway AS with a 20% interest.