Norwegian operator Statoil has made a gas discovery in the Snefrid Nord prospect in the Norwegian Sea.
The discovery well 6706/12-2 was drilled by Transocean Spitsbergen and proved a 105-metre gas column in the Nise Formation.
Statoil has estimated the volumes discovered to be in the range of 31-57million barrels of oil equivalent.
The company said the discovery is an important contribution to the Aasta Hansteen field development project and Polarled pipeline utilisation.
Irene Rummelhoff, senior vice president of exploration in Norway, said: “The Snefrid Nord discovery increases the resource base for the Aasta Hansteen field development project by around 15%.
“Near-field exploration is the main focus of our Norwegian continental shelf exploration programme in 2015. By proving additional timely resources, we extend the production life of our fields and create significant value.
“The Snefrid Nord discovery makes the Aasta Hansteen development project more robust and prolongs the Aasta Hansteen production plateau. It will utilise both the Aasta Hansteen and the Polarled gas pipeline capacity.
“The discovery will now be further evaluated for future tie-in to the Aasta Hansteen infrastructure.”
The Snefrid Nord discovery is located in the deep-water Vøring area in the immediate proximity of the three gas discoveries comprising the Aasta Hansteen field development: Luva, Haklang and Snefrid South.
Statoil is drilling two exploration wells in the vicinity of Aasta Hansteen this year, with the aim of providing upside potential in the area.
Once Snefrid Nord is completed, the Transocean Spitsbergen will move to the neighbouring licence PL602 and drill an exploration well in the Roald Rygg prospect.
Statoil is operator with an interest of 51%. The partners are Wintershall Norge AS (24%), OMV (Norge) AS (15%) and ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS (10%).
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