Total E&P Norge AS (Total), operator of production licence (PL) 211 B, has concluded the drilling of appraisal well 6506/9-1 in the gas discovery 6506/6-1 (Victoria). The discovery was proven in 2000 in Lower to Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks, and is located about 22 kilometers northwest of the Heidrun field. The size of the gas discovery before the drilling of the appraisal well was estimated at 89 billion standard cubic meters (Sm3) of recoverable gas.

The objective of well 6506/9-1 was to delineate discovery 6506/6-1. The well encountered gas in Lower to Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks (the Tilje and Ile formations) and a more accurate delineation of the discovery was carried out under challenging reservoir conditions with high pressure and high temperature.

The well confirms that 6506/6-1 Victoria is a complex discovery. There is therefore substantial uncertainty related to the size of the discovery, and preliminary estimates indicate that the discovery may contain somewhere between 20-60 billion standard cubic meters (Sm3) of recoverable gas. Thorough reviews of the collected data are necessary to achieve better understanding of the resource potential. The results from these reviews will form the basis for the further activity in PLs 211 and 211 B.

Comprehensive data collection and sampling has taken place. The data collection includes about 230 meters of core material. A successful formation test has been carried out. The maximum production rate was 180,000 Sm3 of gas every 24 hours of flow through a 16/64-inch nozzle. The gas contains almost 90% methane and 10% carbon dioxide.

This is the first exploration well in PL 211 B. The license was awarded on February 16, 2007 (APA 2006) as additional acreage to PL 211 (awarded in the 15th licensing round). The appraisal well was drilled to a vertical depth of 5,664 meters below sea level, and was terminated in the Åre formation in Lower Jurassic rocks. Water depth at the site is 416 meters. The well has been plugged and abandoned.

The well was drilled by the semi-submersible drilling facility West Phoenix, which will proceed to PL 043 in the North Sea to drill a development well with exploration target 30/4-D-1 AH where Total E&P Norge is the operator.

The partners in the PL 211 B are Eni Norge AS with 30% stake, StatoilHydro ASA with 30% share and TOTAL with remaining 40% stake.