Sokkeldirektoratet

Oil discovery north of the 7324/8-1 (Wisting) oil discovery in the Barents Sea – 7324/6-1

8/20/2019 Equinor Energy AS, operator of production licence 855, has completed the drilling of wildcat well 7324/6-1.

The well was drilled about 30 kilometres northeast of the 7324/8-1 (Wisting) oil discovery and 350 kilometres north of Hammerfest.

The objective of the well was to prove oil in two reservoir levels in the middle part of the Snadd formation from the Late Triassic Age. The secondary objective of the well was to test the reservoir properties in the lower part of the Snadd formation, as well as in a shallower reservoir level in the Stø formation from the Middle Jurassic Age. The exploration targets in the Snadd formation were in fluvial sandstones.

Well 7324/6-1 encountered an approximate 60-metre sandstone layer with poor reservoir quality in the upper part of the Snadd formation. The reservoir is aquiferous with traces of oil. The reservoir is at the same stratigraphic level where oil was proven in well 7325/4-1 (Gemini Nord).

In the middle part of the Snadd formation, the well encountered an approximate 15-metre oil column with poor reservoir quality. The oil/water contact was encountered in the well at a depth of 1354 metres. This reservoir is at a corresponding stratigraphic level as the 7324/3-1 (Intrepid Eagle) gas discovery.

In the lower part of the Snadd formation, the well encountered a 45-metre aquiferous sandstone layer with poor reservoir quality. In the Stø formation, the well encountered about 20 metres of aquiferous sandstone with good reservoir quality.

Preliminary estimates place the size of the discovery between 3 and 10 million standard cubic metres (Sm³) of recoverable oil. The licensees will assess the discovery together with other nearby discoveries/prospects as regards potential further follow-up.

The well was not formation-tested, but extensive volumes of data have been collected and samples have been taken.

This is the second exploration well in production licence 855, which was awarded in the 23rd licensing round in 2016. Well 7324/6-1 was drilled to a vertical depth of 1569 metres below the sea surface, and was terminated in the Snadd formation in the Late Triassic.

Water depth at the site is 449 metres. The well has been permanently plugged and abandoned.

Well 7324/6-1 was drilled by the West Hercules drilling facility, which is now drilling wildcat well 6407/3-2 in production licence 796, where Equinor Energy AS is the operator.

Map of well 7324-6-1

Contact
postboks@sodir.no

Tel: +47 51 87 60 00

Updated: 2/10/2025

Latest news

Public consultation – proposed changes to two regulations
10/2/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate is submitting proposed changes to the Resource Management Regulations and the Regulations relating to documentation in connection with storage of CO2 on the shelf for public consultation.
Drilling permit for wellbore 35/8-8 S
10/2/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Harbour Energy Norge AS drilling permit for wellbore 35/8-8 S in production licence 248 LS og 248 B.
Popular tours of the Geobank during the Ulltra festival – celebrating the future
9/26/2025 At the end of September, the Norwegian Offshore Directorate participated in a brand-new festival at Ullandhaug - Ulltra 2025. Registered visitors had the opportunity to take part in a guided tour of the Geobank in our offices. 
Seabed data from this summer’s cruise now available for order
9/26/2025 Orders can now be placed for data from this summer’s cruise in the Lofoten Basin (east of the Mohns Ridge) in the Norwegian Sea and the southwestern part of the Knipovich Ridge in the Greenland Sea.
Green light for export via gas pipeline from Troll B
9/25/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted consent for start-up of a tie-in from the Troll B platform to the Kvitebjørn gas export line.
Production figures August 2025
9/23/2025 Preliminary production figures for August 2025 show an average daily production of 2 124 000 barrels of oil, NGL and condensate.
Dry well in the North Sea (34/8-20 S)
9/19/2025 Equinor and its partners Vår Energi and Aker BP have drilled a dry well about 130 kilometres west of Florø.
Drilling permit for wellbore 34/4-19 S
9/15/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor Energy AS drilling permit for wellbore 34/4-19 S in production licence 057.
Drilling permit for wellbore 34/6-9 S
9/15/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor Energy AS drilling permit for wellbore 34/6-9 S in production licence 554.
Oil discovery in the North Sea (31/4-A-15 B)
9/11/2025 OKEA and its partners have made an oil discovery near the Brage field.