StatoilHydro delineates Nucula discovery

Norway: StatoilHydro completed the drilling of an exploration well on the Nucula discovery in the Barents Sea offshore Norway.

The well confirmed a small oil column in sandstone of the Triassic age. The oil-bearing layers were thin, but showed good production properties. The exploration well was not formation tested, but data has been gathered to be able to evaluate the size and extent of the find. StatoilHydro said that it is too early to reach a conclusion on the size of Nucula. Preliminary calculations would suggest that the resource basis lies in the lower region of the original estimation, which was 211.88 MMcfe to 423.76 MMcfe. "We will now evaluate the size of the find and further development opportunities for Nucula," said StatoilHydro's Head of exploration activities in the far north Geir Richardsen. Transocean semisubmersible Polar Pioneer drilled the exploration well, 7125/4-2, in StatoilHydro-operated production license (PL) 393 approximately 68 miles (110 km) east-northeast of the Goliat discovery in the Barents Sea. Drilled in 965 feet (294 m) of water, the well was concluded in early Triassic rocks at a vertical depth of 5,666 feet (1,727 m). The well has been permanently plugged and abandoned. This is the second well in PL 393, which was awarded in the 19th licensing round in 2006.
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