Gas condensate discovered north of Åsgard

Operator Statoil has together with PL479 partners made a gas condensate discovery in the Smørbukk North prospect at Haltenbanken in the Norwegian Sea. Exploration well 6506/9-3, drilled by the drilling rig Transocean Leader, has proven a 40m gas condensate column in a down-to situation in the Garn formation of mid-Jurassic age.

In addition, a thin gas condensate column was proven deeper in the mid-Jurassic Ile formation. The reservoir properties of the Garn formation are good, while somewhat poorer than expected in the Ile formation. The preliminary estimated volume of the discovery is in the range of 25–47M barrels of recoverable oil equivalent (OE).

"The three discoveries comprising the Åsgard field were all made in the 1980s. Making a new discovery in the area 30 years later is encouraging and proves the exciting remaining potential on the NCS", says Gro G. Haatvedt, senior vice president exploration Norway in Statoil.

Smørbukk North is a typical example of timely near-field exploration, which is an important element in Statoil's sharpened exploration strategy for the NCS. Smørbukk North was a high temperature well (HT), so special attention was given to ensuring safe drilling operations.

Exploration well 6506/9-3 is situated in PL479 in the Norwegian Sea. Statoil is operator with an interest of 40.95%. The partners are ENI Norge AS 19.6%, Petoro AS 14.95%, ExxonMobil Exploration & Production Norway AS 14.7% and Total E&P Norge AS 9.8%.