Statoil begins drilling new well in North Sea

Norwegian oil major Statoil has started drilling appraisal well 16/2-15 on the Johan Sverdrup discovery in the North Sea sector of the Norwegian Continental Shelf, according to an announcement made Wednesday by Statoil partner and Swedish oil and gas company Lundin Petroleum.

The well's primary goal is to determine the depth of the reservoir as well as the reservoir thickness and quality in the southern part of the Johan Sverdrup discovery. It is located approximately 1,300 feet from the edge of production license 501, and some 2.2 miles south of well 16/2-8 and 1.5 miles southwest of well 16/2-11.

The planned total depth is approximately 6,560 feet below mean sea level and the well will be drilled by deepwater drilling contractor’s Diamond Offshore’s Ocean Vanguard (mid-water semisub) drilling rig, with the drilling operation expected to last for 50 days.

Statoil, the operator, has a 40 per cent interest, while Lundin Norway has a 10 per cent stake.