Aker BP Makes North Sea Find

Aker BP ASA, operator of production license 442, has encountered oil at well 25/2-18 S, offshore Norway, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate announced Friday.

The objective of well 25/2-18 S was to prove petroleum in Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks belonging to the Vestland Group (the Hugin and Sleipner formation). Three appraisal wells were also drilled to delineate the discovery.

Well 25/2-18 S encountered two oil columns in the Hugin formation, 98 feet and 282 feet in total, both of which had about 65 feet of sandstones with moderate to good reservoir quality.

Appraisal well 25/2-18 A, which was drilled less than a mile toward the southeast in relation to well 25/2-18 S, also encountered two oil columns in the Hugin formation, 111 and 88 feet in total, both with about 82 feet of sandstones with moderate to good reservoir quality.

Three oil columns totalling 88, 75 and 180 feet were also encountered at appraisal well 25/2-18 C, which was drilled less than a mile west of well 25/2-18 S.

Preliminary estimates place the size of the discovery at between 4 and 12 million standard cubic meters of recoverable oil equivalents. The licensees are currently assessing the discovery along with other nearby discoveries with a view towards potential development.