Equinor, ORLEN discover gas and condensate in North Sea exploration well
(WO) - Equinorand ORLEN have made a gas and condensate discovery in the Sissel prospect in production licence (PL) 1137 in the North Sea, the partners announced Jan. 20.
According to the Norwegian Offshore Directorate, the 15/8-3 S exploration well was drilled approximately 5 km southeast of the Utgard field and about 250 km southwest of Stavanger. Preliminary estimates indicate recoverable resources of between 1 and 4.5 million standard cubic meters of oil equivalent, corresponding to roughly 6.3–28.3 million barrels of oil equivalent.
The well targeted Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks in the Hugin Formation. Results confirmed the presence of condensate-rich gas in sandstone layers in the upper Hugin Formation, where the well encountered a gross interval of 148 m, including 57 m of sandstone with moderate to good reservoir quality. A hydrocarbon column of about 95 m was proven, though the gas-water contact was not encountered. The secondary exploration target in the lower Hugin Formation was found to be water-bearing with poorer reservoir quality.
Drilled by the Deepsea Atlantic rig in approximately 110 m of water, the well reached a vertical depth of 4,282 m below sea level and a measured depth of 4,359 m before being terminated in the Middle Jurassic Rattray Formation. While the well was not formation-tested, extensive data acquisition and sampling were carried out to support further evaluation.
PL 1137 was awarded in 2022 as part of Norway’s Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) licensing round, and 15/8-3 S represents the first exploration well drilled in the licence. The partners said they will now assess development options for the discovery, including the potential for a subsea tie-back to existing infrastructure in the Utgard area. The well has been permanently plugged and abandoned.
