Lundin Petroleum AB has started drilling the latest appraisal well at the giant Johan Sverdrup discovery, in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.
The well,16/3-8S, on PL501, is at the crest of the Avaldsnes high. Its objectives are to establish the depth, quality and thickness of Zechstein group carbonates of Permian age, and investigate the presence and quality of Jurassic reservoir sequences about 3.9km south-east of discovery well 16/2-6.
Lundin said the carbonates may play an important role in the development of this part of the discovery, both as a potential good oil reservoir, and to optimise the production planning of the Jurassic oil reservoir directly on top of it.
Planned total depth is about 2025m below mean sea level, and the well will be drilled using the semisubmersible Bredford Dolphin.
Drilling is expected to take about 45 days.
Lundin Petroleum is operator, with 40% interest. Partners are: Statoil Petroleum AS (40%) and Maersk Oil Norway (20%).