Aker BP ASA and its partners have made an oil discovery in the so-called E prospect near the Skarv field.

Preliminary calculations of the size of the discovery made in the Garn Formation are between 0.48 and 1.11 million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable oil equivalent (o.e). This corresponds to 3-7 million barrels of recoverable o.e.

A minor discovery was also made in the Early Cretaceous; the size of this discovery is estimated at 0.16-0.32 million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable o.e. This corresponds to 1-2 million barrels of recoverable o.e.

Wells 6507/5-13 S and A were drilled 6 kilometres southwest of the floating production and storage vessel Skarv FPSO in production licence 212, which is part of the Skarv Unit.

6507/5-13 S and A are the ninth and tenth exploration wells in production licence 212, which was awarded in 1996.

The wells were drilled by the Scarabeo 8 exploration rig.

The licensees will consider the discovery in the Garn Formation for a potential tie-back to the Skarv FPSO.

Geological information

The objective of well 6507/5-13 S was to prove petroleum in reservoir rocks in the Fangst and Båt groups. The well also aimed to confirm the reservoir quality and delineate a potential discovery.

The well encountered a 14-metre oil column in the Garn Formation in 43 metres of sandstone with moderate reservoir quality. The oil/water contact was encountered at 3702 metres below sea level. The other formations in the Fangst and Båt groups were aquiferous.

Well 6507/5-13 S encountered hydrocarbons from the Early Cretaceous (Apt/Alba) in multiple sandstone layers with moderate reservoir quality. The oil/water contact was estimated at 3414 metres below sea level.

Well 6507/5-13 A was drilled to delineate the discovery in the Early Cretaceous. The well proved a reservoir of moderate quality. The reservoir was saturated with water.

The wells were not formation-tested, but extensive volumes of data and samples were collected.

Wildcat well 6507/5-13 S was drilled to a measured depth of 4022 metres and a vertical depth of 3998 metres below sea level. It was terminated in the Åre Formation.

Well 6507/5-13 S was drilled to a measured depth of 3607 metres and a vertical depth of 3465 metres below sea level. The well was terminated in the Melke Formation.

Water depth at the site is 383 metres. The wells have been permanently plugged and abandoned.

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