BG Norge AS, operator of production licence 373 S, is in the process of completing the drilling of wildcat well 34/3-3 S and appraisal well 34/3-3 A.

The wells are located west of the Knarr field (formerly called Jordbær) in the northern part of the North Sea. Both wells proved oil in Early Jurassic sandstones.

The objective of well 34/3-3 S was to prove hydrocarbons in the Cook formation of the Early Jurassic Age in the 'Jordbær Vest' prospect. Oil was proven in the upper part of the Cook formation with very good reservoir quality.

The objective of the 34/3-3A sidetrack was to delineate the 34/3-3 S discovery by confirming the extent of reservoir rocks and also proving oil in the lower part of the Cook formation. The well proved oil both in the upper and lower Cook formation with very good reservoir quality.

Extensive data acquisition programmes have been carried out in both wells. Well 34/3-3 S was also production-tested with a maximum rate of 1200 standard cubic metres of oil per flow day through a 12.7 millimetre nozzle opening.

Preliminary estimates place the size of the discovery between 1.5 and 4.0 million standard cubic metres of oil equivalents. The licensees will consider development of the discovery to the Knarr production ship. Development of the Knarr field was approved by the Storting in June 2011.

Well 34/3-3 S is the third exploration well in production licence 373 S. The licence was awarded in APA 2005.

Well 34/3-3 S was drilled to a vertical depth of 4063 metres below the sea surface, and terminated in Early Jurassic rocks. Appraisal well 34/3-3 A was drilled to a vertical depth of 3944 metres below the sea surface.

The water depth is 400 metres. Well 34/3-3 S will now be temporarily plugged for potential use in a future development.

Wells 34/3-3 S and -3 A were drilled by the West Alpha drilling facility, which will now proceed to production licence 435 in the Norwegian Sea to drill delineation well 6507/7-15 S in production licence 435, where RWE Dea Norge AS is the operator.