Gas/condensate discovery in the North Sea Freke prospect
ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Norway AS, operator of production license 029B, has completed the drilling of the wildcat 15/6-10. The well is located about 30 kilometers north of the Sleipner field in the North Sea. Det norske oljeselskap (Det norske) has drilled the well on behalf of ExxonMobil.
The purpose of the well was to prove hydrocarbons in reservoir rocks of Middle Jurassic age in the"Freke" prospect.
The well found a 30 meter gas/condensate column in rocks of Middle Jurassic age. It was not tested but extensive data collection and sampling have been carried out. The licensees will further evaluate the discovery.
This is the 1st exploration well in production license 029B which was carved out from production license 029 in 2001. The well was drilled to a vertical depth of 3677 meters below sea level, and was completed in rocks of Upper Triassic age.
The water depth was 111 meters. The well will now be permanently plugged and abandoned.
The well was drilled by the semi-submersible rig Bredford Dolphin that will now proceed to production license PL 027D in the North Sea to drill the wildcat 25/8-16S (the Eitri prospect) operated by ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Norway AS, where Det norske will act as drilling operator.
The licensees in production license 029B are StatoilHydro (50 percent), ExxonMobil (30 percent) and Det norske oljeselskap (20 percent).
