Aker BP finds more gas in Norway’s far north

OSLO, Norway — Aker BP has made a small gas discovery in the Hassel prospect in the Barents Sea, about 300 km offshore northern Norway.

Saipem’s Scarabeo 8 drilled well 7324/8-4 in 401 m of water in production license 1170. The same rig also proved gas with the recently completed 7324/6-2 well on the same license.

Preliminary estimates suggest 3.23 MMboe to 4.42 MMboe recoverable for the second find, said the Norwegian Offshore Directorate, adding that the licensees plan to assess the discovery with others in the area for a potential future development.

Both wells were drilled in the Hoop fault complex, close to the 7324/8-1 (Wisting) and 7324/7-2 (Hanssen) oil discoveries.

Well 7324/8-4 encountered a 30-m reservoir zone in the Stø and Fruholmen formations, with an 11-m gas column.

Aker BP’s partners are Equinor, Petoro and Inpex Idemitsu.