Exploration well 7220/11-1 on the Alta prospect in the Barents Sea has been completed and has encountered both oil and gas, a Lundin Petroleum press release said. The well is located 20 km (12 miles) northeast of the Gohta discovery (well 7120/1-3) and about 160 km (99 miles) from the Norwegian coastline.

The main objective of well 7220/11-1 was to prove the presence of hydrocarbons in reservoir rocks of Permo-Carboniferous and Triassic age. The well encountered a gross hydrocarbon column of 57 m (187 ft) consisting of 11 m (36 ft) gas and 46 m (151 ft) oil in carbonate rocks of good reservoir quality.

Extensive data acquisition and sampling was carried out in the reservoir, including conventional coring and fluid sampling. Two production tests were performed in the oil zone, producing at a maximum rate of 3,260 bbl/d of oil and 48 Mcm/d (1.7 MMcf/d) of gas through a 36/64-in. choke constrained by rig facilities.

Following the results of well 7220/11-1 the preliminary evaluation of the gross recoverable oil and gas resource range in the Alta accumulation is estimated at 125 MMboe to 400 MMboe. The oil resource range is estimated at 85 MMbbl to 310 MMbbl of oil.

The exploration well 7220/11-1 is the first well drilled in production license PL609 after it was awarded in the 21st Concession Round in 2011.

Lundin Norway holds a 40% interest in PL609. Partners are RWE Dea Norge AS and Idemitsu Petroleum Norge AS with 30% each.