Equinor and its partners Ineos E&P and Faroe Petroleum have struck oil and gas near the Norne Field in the Norwegian Sea, according to a news release.

The 6507/3-13 well proved gas in its first target, Snadd Outer Outer, and oil in its second target, Black Vulture, Equinor said in a news release. The well was drilled by the Transocean Spitsbergen rig.

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) reported that the well “encountered the Lysing Formation of about 25 meters, with a gas column of about 5 meters and with variation from poor to good reservoir quality. In the Lange Formation, oil and gas were encountered in sandstone layers of about 25 meters, of which 14 meters net sandstone with moderate reservoir properties.”

The well volume totals between 3-60 million boe before further delineation is made, according to Equinor.

Source: Equinor
Source: Equinor

The NPD added plans to drill 6507/3-13-A to delineate the discovery in the Lange Formation were interrupted due to technical problems.

“For this reason, there is considerable uncertainty regarding the recoverable volumes in the Lange Formation,” the NPD said in a release. “The licensees will assess further delineation of the discovery with regard to a potential development.”

License partners will also evaluate how to further develop the discovery.

“Tying the discovery to the Norne ship is one of the options we will study. Snadd Outer Outer/Black Vulture is located close to the Norne Field with all its infrastructure, and this option is in line with Equinor’s strategy of using existing solutions,” Nick Ashton, Equinor’s senior vice president for exploration in Norway and the UK, said in the company release.

“The Cape Vulture discovery has already more than doubled remaining oil resources that can be produced through the Norne Field, and we have a specific goal of further increasing the reserves around the Norne Field,” Ashton added.

The well was plugged and abandoned. Plans are for the rig to move to production license 502 where it will drill the Equinor-operated exploration well Klaff in the North Sea.