A limited oil column was proven during drilling of an exploration well on the Omega Nord prospect six kilometres north-east of the Snorre field in the North Sea.

However, the reservoir qualities of the sand and shale rocks were below expectations and the find is probably not commercially viable.

The purpose of the exploration well was to confirm the presence of petroleum in upper Triassic reservoir rocks in the Lunde formation.

We have achieved good results in infrastructure-led exploration the last few years, but this well did not produce the results we had hoped for, says Tom Dreyer, head of infrastructure-led exploration in the North Sea.

Drilling of the exploration well is now concluded. No formation test was performed in the well, but extensive data gathering and sampling were made.

This is the 12th exploration well in production licence 057, which was awarded in the fourth licensing round in 1979.

The well was drilled to a vertical depth of 2,940 metres below sea level and was completed in the lower part of the Lunde formation. Water depth in the area is 385 metres.

Exploration well 34/4-12 S was drilled by Ocean Vanguard, which will now drill exploration well 34/4-12 A in Snorre Unit from the same rig position.

Tags: Statoil