Statoil and partners Eni and Petoro have made a minor gas discovery in the Blåmann well between Snøhvit and Goliat fields in the Barents Sea off the Norwegian coast.
The well was drilled in licence PL 849, which was awarded in Norway’s awards in predefined areas (APA) licensing round last year.
Said to be the second discovery in Statoil’s 2017 Barents Sea exploration campaign, the new discovery is located in the Hammerfest basin, 21km from the Snøhvit field.
The newly discovered resource is expected to contain two billion to three billion standard cubic metres of recoverable volume of gas and ten million to 20 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe).
Statoil Exploration Norway and UK senior vice-president Jez Averty said: “We were exploring for oil and this is not the result we were hoping for.
“However, this gas discovery has the potential to contribute additional resources to the Snøhvit project.”
The Blåmann well was drilled using semisubmersible rig Songa Enabler and encountered gas in a 23m column in the Stø formation.
The rig will now move onto the Hoop area to drill the Gemini North prospect in licence PL855, north-east of the Wisting discovery.
Statoil is the operator of both licences Blåmann (PL849) and Gemini North (PL855) with 50% and 55% interests respectively.
The remaining interests of Blåmann licence are owned by Eni with a 30% stake and Petoro with 20%.
Image: Map of Blåmann well. Photo: courtesy of Statoil ASA.
