Statoil, along with its partners Eni and Petoro, has made a gas discovery between the Snøhvit and Goliat fields in the Barents Sea.
The companies have a small gas discovery in the Blåmann well, which has been drilled in licence PL 849.
Recoverable volumes from the well are expected to be 2-3 billion standard cubic metres (BCM), which is around 10-20 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE).
Last year, the licence for the well was secured under the Norway’s awards in predefined areas (APA) licensing round.
The gas been discovered in a 23 metre column in the Stø formation, while no oil volumes were encountered at the well.
Statoil Norway and the UK exploration senior vice president Jez Averty said: “We were exploring for oil and this is not the result we were hoping for.
“However, this gas discovery has the potential to contribute additional resources to the Snøhvit project.”
Situated in the Hammerfest basin, the discovery is around 21km southeast of the Snøhvit field. It is the second discovery in Statoil’s 2017 Barents Sea exploration campaign following the Kayak oil discovery.
Songa Enabler semisubmersible drilling rig has been used to drill Blåmann well. It will now be shifted on to the Hoop area to drill the Gemini North prospect in licence PL855, which is situated northeast of the Wisting discovery.
Statoil is the operator of the Blåmann well with 50% interest, while Eni owns 30% stake and Petoro holds 20% stake in the well.
The company is also the operator of the Gemini North prospect with 55% stake, while OMV owns 25% interest and Petoro owns 20% stake in the well.
Image: Statoil is the operator of the Blåmann well with 50% interest. Photo courtesy of Statoil ASA.