Statoil has together with PL169 partners proved new oil resources in the D-structure in the vicinity of the Grane field in the North Sea.
Well 25/8-18 S, drilled by the rig Transocean Leader, proved an oil column of 25 meters in the Heimdal Formation. The estimated volume of the discovery is in the range of 30-80 million barrels of recoverable oil.
“We are pleased with having proved new oil resources in the Grane area,” says May-Liss Hauknes , Statoil vice president for exploration in the North Sea. “Near-field exploration is an important part of Statoil’s exploration portfolio on the NCS. It provides high-value barrels that are important for extending the production life of existing installations.”
The D-structure is located on the Utsira High, just 7 km north of the Grane field and in the immediate proximity of the Grane F oil discovery made by Statoil in 2013. The D-structure was originally penetrated in 1992 by well 25/8-4, which encountered just one meter of oil corresponding to about six million barrels.
The Grane oil is transported through a 212 kilometre long subsea pipeline to Statoil’s Sture terminal in Øygarden, west of Bergen.
“Well 25/8-18 S appraised the D-structure and proved substantial additional oil volumes in an excellent sandstone reservoir. This is a result of a recent re-evaluation of the area done by the partnership. New seismic and improved subsurface mapping have given us new confidence in the D-structure and allowed to mature it towards a drilling decision” , says Hauknes.
“Tie in to the nearby Grane field is one of the development solutions that will be evaluated for the discovery” , according to Gro Aksnes , Statoil vice president for area development in Operations West.
Exploration well 25/8-18 S is located in PL169 in the North Sea. Statoil is operator with an interest of 57%. The partners are Petoro AS (30%) and ExxonMobil Exploration & Production Norway AS (13%).
Press Release