First deepwater Barents well dry

Eni Norge’s exploration well on the Bønna prospect was dry, according to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD). 

The wildcat well 7016/2-1 was the first drilled in production license 529 in the Barents Sea, about 185km southwest of the Snøhvit field and 160km northwest of Tromsø.

It was also the first deepwater well in the Barents Sea, drilled in 1366m water using Saipem's Scarabeo 8 drilling unit. 

The 7016/2-1 well’s aim was to prove petroleum in Eocene and Paleocene reservoir rocks (the Sotbakken Group), but the well was dry.

The 529 license was awarded in the 20th licensing round.

The well will now be permanently plugged and abandoned, following which the Scarabeo 8 will proceed to production licence 229, also in the Barents Sea, to drill production wells on the Goliat field, operated by Eni Norge.

Goliat is the first oil development in the Barents Sea. The Goliat discovery was made with the first exploration well in 2000.

Production start-up at Goliat is planned to take place third quarter 2014.

Its estimated recoverable oil reserves are 174MM bbl, with 8Billion cu m gas. 

Image: The Scarabeo 8.