Exploration well 16/2-18S, located on Statoil operated PL265 in the North Sea, was drilled west of Johan Sverdrup discovery about 9 km west of well 16/2-6 and 3 km west of appraisal well 16/2-14. The primary exploration target of the well was to prove petroleum in reservoir rocks of Jurassic Age at basement height (Utsirahøgda), and the secondary target was to examine the reservoir properties in the weathered/fractured basement.
No Jurassic reservoir was found, however, an oil zone of 15 m was proven and no oil water contact was established. The upper part of a weathered and fractured granitic basement was cored and logged and a mini-drill stem test (DST) was carried out, showing that the reservoir had poor production properties. The oil is not in communication with the Johan Sverdrup discovery.
The well was drilled to a vertical depth of 1,948 m below mean sea level, and will be plugged and abandoned.
The well was drilled using the semi-submersible drilling rig, Ocean Vanguard, which will now drill wildcat well 30/9-25 in PL104, where Statoil Petroleum AS is the operator.
This is the 13th exploration well in production license 265. The license was granted in the North Sea Awards 2000.
Statoil Petroleum AS is the operator with 40% interest with partners, Lundin Norway AS (10%) Petoro (30%) and Det norske oljeselskap ASA (20%).
