Lundin Norway AS confirmed a significant oil find in its Ghota discovery following the completion of a successful flow test of exploration well 7120/1-3, which proved gas flow at a rate of approximately 4,300 b/d. The test showed good production characteristics in the limestone and dolomite reservoir.
Located off Norway around 35km northwest from Statoil's Snøhvit field, Ghota marks Lundin's first discovery in the Barents Sea. It is also the first successful test in Permian carbonates on the Norwegian continental shelf.
The purpose of the well was to prove petroleum in reservoir rocks in Triassic sandstone reservoirs and Permo-Carboniferous carbonate reservoir. In the carbonate reservoir, the well found a 25m (82 ft) gross gas column above a 75m (245 ft) gross oil column in limestone. The Triassic sandstone was water-bearing.
Preliminary calculations of the discovery size place it between 113-239Mboe.
Drilling operations were performed by the semisubmersible rig Transocean Arctic, which drilled down 2515m (1.5 mi.) in a water depth of 342m (0.2 mi.). The well has been permanently plugged and abandoned, with further appraisals to be considered.
Lundin announced in early September that it was drilling exploration well 7120/1-3 with the intent to prove oil in two targets: Triassic sandstones and Permian carbonates. The Triassic reservoir initially yielded sandstone as expected, but ultimately proved to be water-filled. Drilling was also performed by the Transocean Arctic.
Transocean Arctic will now proceed to the Skarfjell discovery in PL418 in the North Sea to drill appraisal well 35/9-10 S. Germany's Wintershall Norge AS is the operator.
Lundin Norway operates PL492 with 40% interest. Its partners are Det Norske AS with 40% interest and Norwegian Energy Company ASA (Noreco) with 20% interest. The license was awarded in APA 2007.
Pictured is the Transocean Arctic in the Barents Sea.
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