Oil discovery in the North Sea (35/11-32 S)

The well was drilled in production licence 090 HS, 5 kilometres northwest of the Fram field and approximately 97 kilometres southwest of Florø. 

Preliminary estimates indicate the size of the discovery is between 0.7 – 1.3 million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable oil equivalent (o.e.). This corresponds to 4.4-8.2 million barrels of recoverable o.e. 

The licensees are considering tying the discovery back to existing or future infrastructure in the area. 

This is the first exploration well in production licence 090 HS, which was awarded on 9 April 2013 (8th licensing round on the Norwegian continental shelf). 

Well 35/11-32 S was drilled using the COSL Innovator drilling rig. 

Geological information 

The primary exploration target for the well was to prove petroleum in reservoir rocks from the Late Jurassic deep marine equivalent to the Sognefjord Formation. The secondary exploration target was to prove petroleum and investigate the presence of potential reservoir rocks in two prospective intervals from the Middle Jurassic in deep marine equivalents to the Fensfjord Formation. 

Exploration well 35/11-32 S encountered a 22-metre oil column in sandstone layers in the Sognefjord Formation with a total thickness of 82 metres, of which 70 metres was sandstone with moderate to good reservoir properties. The oil/water contact was encountered.

The secondary exploration target in the Fensfjord Formation did not prove reservoir rocks or hydrocarbons. 

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

Well 35/11-32 S was drilled to a vertical depth of 3517 metres below sea level and was terminated in the Heather Formation from the Middle Jurassic. 

Water depth at the site is 373 metres. The well has been permanently plugged and abandoned.