Aker BP ASA has concluded the drilling of wildcat well 18S and appraisal wells 18A, 18B and 18C, in the Norwegian North Sea, without establishing commercial production. The wells were drilled in 121 m of water, with the Maersk Interceptor drilling facility, 4 km south of the Frigg Gamma Delta oil discovery.

The objective of well 18S was to prove petroleum in a middle Jurassic reservoir belonging to the Vestland group (Hugin and Sleipner formations). The well encountered two oil columns in the Hugin formation, both of which had about 20 m of sandstone with moderate to good reservoir quality. The other three wells were drilled to delineate the discovery.

Appraisal well 18A, also encountered two oil columns in the Hugin formation, both with approximately 25 m of sandstones with moderate to good reservoir quality. Appraisal well 18B, which was drilled 1.4 km north of 18S to test the northern segment, encountered the Hugin formation with aquiferous sandstones of about 15 and 75 m, both with moderate reservoir quality.

Appraisal well 18C encountered three oil columns in the Hugin formation totaling 27, 23 and 55 m, of which 15, 11 and 10 m of sandstones of moderate to good reservoir quality. A 7 m condensate column was also encountered, of which 3 m of sandstone has moderate reservoir quality.

Extensive data acquisition and sampling have been carried out. Two successful DSTs were conducted in 18A. The maximum production rate was estimated at 3,770 bopd, through a 40/64-in choke, in the lowermost oil zone. The production rate in the uppermost oil zone was estimated at 1,320 bopd through a 24/64-in choke. The formation tests showed moderate flow properties.

Wells 18S, 18A, 18B and 18C were drilled to respective MD of 3870, 4066, 4335 and 4369 m below the sea surface, with vertical depths of 3813, 3723, 3803 and 4029 m. All wells will be permanently plugged and abandoned. The licensees are assessing the oil shows along with other nearby discoveries with a view towards potential development.

Source: www.reuters.com