Offshore staff
OSLO -- StatoilHydro Petroleum AS, as operator of exploration license 394, has completed drilling of exploration well 7224/6-1 in the Barents Sea.
The well was tested in a prospect called Arenaria in block 7224/6. The primary goal was to prove hydrocarbons in sandstone of early Jurassic to late Triassic age. The secondary goal was to prove hydrocarbons in rocks of the middle Triassic age.
In the primary exploration target, rocks of good reservoir quality were found in accordance with the prognoses. No hydrocarbons were proven, the company says.
In the secondary drilling target, gas was proven in reservoir rocks of poor quality.
This is the first well to be drilled in exploration license 394 which was awarded in the 19th license round in 2006. The well was an obligation well. ThePolar Pioneer drilled the well to a vertical depth of 2,315 m (7,595 ft) below sea level and it was completed in rocks of middle Triassic age.
Polar Pioneer will now start drilling exploration well 7222/11-1 in the StatoilHydro-operated exploration license 228.
"The well was not formation tested and it is too early to tell if the gas can be produced," says Bente Fotland, exploration manager for licenses in the far north.
08/22/2008
