French operator Engie E&P has increased its resource estimate for the Cara field in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea and reached a "concretization decision," or feasibility decision gate, on the field.
Engie says Cara contains 56-94 MMboe, up from 25-70 MMboe estimated previously.
Cara is a gas and oil discovery in PL636 in block 36/7, about 14km from the Engie E&P operated Gjøa facilities, into which it could be a tieback, with first production targeted for 2020-2021.
Cara was the second largest discovery on the Norwegian continental shelf in 2016, according to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate.
"Since the discovery in 2016, we have analyzed the expanded data acquisition conducted during drilling and testing of the well. This has resulted in increased volumes, which gives us an improved economy and a more robust field development project," said Project Manager Cara, Siri Lunde in ENGIE E&P.
Engie says that, at this stage, the licencees have identified at least one technical and economically feasible concept that provides a basis for initiating studies that should lead to concept selection by 1 November 2018. The suggested concept involves a tie-back to the ENGIE E&P operated Gjøa-facilities.
Partners in PL636 are: Idemitsu Petroleum (30%), Pandion Energy (20%), Wellesley Petroleum (20%), Engie E&P (30%, operator).