Total makes gas discovery in North Sea David prospect

Total E&P Norge AS made a gas/condensate discovery in well 25/5-7 on the David prospect, located about 12 miles (20 kilometers) northeast of the Heimdal field in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. A gas column of about 230 feet (70 meters) was encountered in the Brent group (primary target) with better reservoir rocks and reservoir quality than expected.

The Statfjord formation, the secondary target, has good reservoir properties, but with aquifers. Preliminary estimates of the size of the discovery range between 2.4 and 3.2 million cubic meters of recoverable oil equivalents. Drilled by the Ocean Vanguard semisub, the well was not formation tested, but data was gathered. The partners in the license are considering connecting the discovery to the Heimdal field.

Total, serving as operator of the license, holds a 40% interest; Petoro holds 30%; Centrica Resources holds 20%; and Det norske holds the remaining 10%.

Total E&P Norge AS, operator of production license 102 C, is in the process of completing the drilling of wildcat well 25/5-7. The well is located about 20 kilometers northeast of the Heimdal field in the North Sea.

The primary exploration target for the well was to prove petroleum in the Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks (the Brent group). The secondary target was to prove petroleum in the lower Jurassic reservoir rocks (the Statfjord formation).

A gas column of 70 meters was encountered in the Brent group with better reservoir rocks and reservoir quality than expected. The Statfjord formation also has good reservoir properties, but with aquifers.

Preliminary estimates of the size of the discovery range between 2.4 and 3.2 million cubic meters of recoverable oil equivalents.

The well was not formation tested, but comprehensive data collection and sampling have been carried out. A gas-condensate reservoir of about 3000 Sm3/Sm3 is expected. The licensees in the production license will consider producing the discovery via the Heimdal field.

The well is the first wildcat well in production license 102 C. The well was drilled to a vertical depth of 3,045 meters below sea level, and was terminated in the Hegre group in the upper Triassic. Water depth at the site is 119 meters. The well will now be plugged and abandoned.

Well 25/5-7 was drilled by Ocean Vanguard. The drilling facility will now travel to production license 303, north of the Sleipner area in the North Sea, to drill delineation well 15/6-11 S, where Statoil ASA is the operator.