North Sea Carmen discovery confirmed with up to 107 MMboe recoverable

(WO) — Partners in the Carmen discovery offshore Norway have confirmed the gas-condensate accumulation through an appraisal well that increased confidence in a resource estimated at 21 MMboe to 107 MMboe recoverable.

Appraisal well 35/10-16 S was drilled in production license PL1148 in the Norwegian North Sea, approximately 25 km northwest of the Troll field and 35 km east of the Kvitebjørn field.

Operator Wellesley Petroleum and partners DNO, Equinor and Aker BP reported that the well successfully delineated the Carmen discovery, originally made in 2023 by wells 35/10-10 S and 35/10-10 A.

According to preliminary estimates, the discovery contains between 3.4 million and 17 million standard cubic meters of recoverable oil equivalent, corresponding to 21 MMboe to 107 MMboe.

The appraisal well encountered multiple gas-condensate-bearing intervals within the Middle Jurassic Brent Group, including the Ness, Etive and Oseberg formations. The largest hydrocarbon column was encountered in the Etive Formation, where a 41.3-m gas-condensate interval was identified in reservoirs ranging from poor to moderate quality.

The license group will now evaluate development options, including a potential tieback to existing infrastructure in the area. Carmen is considered a candidate for development through the nearby Kvitebjørn platform, one of several infrastructure-led opportunities being assessed in the region.

Additional appraisal and exploration drilling is also under consideration as partners continue to evaluate the full extent of the laterally extensive structure.

The well was drilled by the Deepsea Yantai semisubmersible rig (pictured above) in 365 m of water and reached a total vertical depth of 4,153 m below sea level before being permanently plugged and abandoned.

Following completion of the Carmen appraisal, the Deepsea Yantai has moved to appraise the nearby Afrodite discovery in license PL293.