Gulltopp is world record well

StatoilHydro has successfully completed the most complicated well in the company's history.

It has set a record for the longest producing well in the world drilled from an offshore platform. At almost 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) long and almost completely horizontal, the Gulltopp well on the Gullfaks field has seen hydrocarbons flowing up through the well at 9,910 metres (32,513 ft). StatoilHydro Head of Operations West Arne Sigve Nylund said, "This is a day of rejoicing both for Gullfaks and StatoilHydro. We were aware of the risk that Gulltopp drilling from the platform might fail. This makes it extra great that we today have successfully completed the company's most demanding drilling operation." The experience gained by StatoilHydro is very valuable to the further development of both remote prospects at Gullfaks and on other fields in the company's portfolio. Gulltopp will, together with other prospects in the area, secure continued Gullfaks operations towards 2030. An extensive plan for how to extend the life of the field, which came on stream back in 1986, has been developed. The 10 kilometre drill pipe was controlled from the drilling rig at the sea surface. It was run 150 metres down to the seabed, and then kilometre after kilometre through various types of rock strata.
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