Aker BP is evaluating the economic viability of a new gas discovery in the North Sea at the Alpehumle field, which is located 25 kilometers north of the Duva field. This discovery has been introduced as the first exploration well in production license 1153, which was acquired in 2021.
Details of the Gas Discovery
Aker BP holds 40 percent of the shares in this license, while other companies including Inpex Idemitsu, Okea, and Harbour Energy hold 30, 20, and 10 percent of the shares, respectively. Well 36/4-2 was drilled by the Scarabeo 8 rig from Saipem. The rig, which recently renewed its contract with Aker BP, has accommodation capacity for 140 people and a maximum drilling depth of 35,000 feet (approximately 10,668 meters) and will collaborate with the company until 2028.
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Analysis of Drilling Results
The main objective of drilling well 36/4-2 was to prove the presence of oil in reservoir rocks from the early Cretaceous period (the Agat formation). Additionally, the purpose of drilling the side well 36/4-2 A was to determine the boundary of this discovery and prove the hydrocarbon/water contact. The water depth at the drilling site is 255 meters, and both wells will be permanently plugged and abandoned.
Well 36/4-2 encountered a 10-meter gas column in the Agat formation, of which 10 meters was in very good quality reservoir rock layers. However, hydrocarbon/water contact was not proven. On the other hand, well 36/4-2 A also found 4 meters of very good quality reservoir rock in the Agat formation. This reservoir was water-bearing, but extensive data collection and sampling were conducted in both wells.
Well 36/4-2 was drilled to a depth of 2,250 meters below sea level and terminated in basement rocks, while well 36/4-2 A was drilled to a depth of 2,320 meters below sea level and terminated in an undefined shape.
Initial calculations indicate that the volume of this discovery is between 0.15 to 2.4 million cubic meters of recoverable oil, equivalent to 1 to 15 million barrels. According to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, the license holders will evaluate the well results to determine whether this discovery is economically viable and if further delineation is possible.
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