Norway’s oil and gas company Aker BP and its compatriot state-owned partner, Equinor, have come up dry in their latest North Sea exploration well on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).
Aker BP and Equinor recently drilled a well named 15/6-17, located in the Svarteknippa prospect in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. This site is about 15 kilometers west of the Solveig field and approximately 220 kilometers from Stavanger. This attempt represents a significant moment in their exploration activities, as it was the first well drilled in production licence 979, granted through the awards in pre-defined areas (APA) in 2018.
The drilling operation was executed using the Scarabeo 8 semi-submersible rig, operated by Saipem. The main aim of this well was to locate hydrocarbons in the Middle Jurassic layers of the Hugin and Sleipner formations. Additionally, they targeted reservoirs and hydrocarbons in the Draupne and Heather formations, which were anticipated to yield valuable resources.
Despite high hopes, results from the well revealed a mix of geological formations without sufficient hydrocarbon indicators. Near the primary exploration target, the well encountered the Vestland Group, consisting of 97 meters of rock, of which only 8 meters were sandstone with moderate to poor reservoir quality. The weak hydrocarbon indicators recorded during this phase signaled a challenging find.
As they explored closer to the secondary target areas, the well displayed 191 meters of the Draupne Formation and 104 meters of the Heather Formation. Unfortunately, no proven reservoir rocks were discovered in these formations either. The total depth of the well was an impressive 3,704 meters below sea level, concluding in the Smith Bank Formation from the Triassic age.
As part of their drilling protocol, data acquisition was performed, including the recovery of a 54-meter core sample from the Vestland Group. After the operation, the site was at a water depth of 102 meters and the well was ultimately permanently plugged and abandoned.
The Norwegian Offshore Directorate noted that exploration activity within the central North Sea has increasingly focused on minor discoveries close to existing infrastructure, emphasizing the maturity of the area. Aker BP and Equinor have become notable players within this exploration space, characterizing their activities as both essential and strategic.
While the 15/6-17 well did not yield commercially viable hydrocarbons, the partnership has seen success in other ventures. For instance, Equinor celebrated a double win earlier this year in the North Sea, showcasing their capacity to uncover valuable resources despite setbacks in other sectors.
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