Noatun discovery may be subsea tie-back to Njord
In September gas and condensate were confirmed at Noatun, which lies 16 kilometres north of the Njord field in the Norwegian Sea. StatoilHydro is currently concluding the drilling of a sidetrack well from the original well.
The purpose of the well was to confirm the size of a gas/condensate discovery in reservoir rocks of middle to lower Jurassic age.
The data gathered in connection with the sidetrack drilling have confirmed recoverable volumes of between five and eight million standard cubic metres of oil equivalent according to a preliminary estimate.
The well was drilled to a vertical depth of 5050 metres below sea level and was completed in the lower Jurassic Åre formation.
”The Noatun find proves that it is still possible to make considerable finds in established exploration models in this area, also at water depths of up to 5000 metres,” says Sivert Jørgenvåg, head of exploration activities close to existing fields on the Halten Bank.
”It is encouraging that we make discoveries which can prolong the lifetime of the Njord field.”
The well was drilled by the semi-submersible West Alpha drilling rig, which is proceeding to the North Sea to drill the Fulla prospect.
