Neptune Energy and its partners today said they had discovered oil and gas at the Hamlet exploration wells (PL153) in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.
RESOURCE
The company added in a statement that in-place volumes discovered in the Hamlet structure were estimated to be five to 11 million standard cubic metres (MSm3) or 30 to 70 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe).
Work is continuing to confirm potential recoverable resources, but Neptune’s preliminary estimate is 8-24 mmboe.
TIE BACKS
Hamlet lies 58km west of Florø at a water depth of 358 metres. It will be considered as a tie-back to the Neptune-operated Gjøa semi-submersible platform.
Hamlet is a new discovery in the Gjøa area, where Neptune already operates two fields.
The Wintershall Dea-operated fields Vega and Nova are also tied back to the Gjøa platform.
Neptune Energy’s managing director for Norway and the UK, Odin Estensen, said that the discovery was in line with company’s strategy to focus on exploration around existing hubs, which enables fast-track development and keeps costs and carbon emissions low.
“A potential field development would build on our experiences from recent successful developments of the Duva field and Gjøa P1 segment,” he added.
PROGRAMME
The drilling programme comprised a main-bore (35/9-16S) with a side-track (35/9-16A).
Both wells found hydrocarbons, and the sidetrack confirmed an oil/water contact at 2662 metres total vertical depth.
Neptune and its partners have started studies on development options for the discovery.
“The Hamlet exploration well confirms the extended potential of the Agat play, previously only developed and produced in the Neptune-operated Duva field,” added director of exploration and development in Norway, Steinar Meland.
“Neptune plans to drill a further exploration well, the Ofelia prospect, in the same play later this year.”
Hamlet was drilled by the Deepsea Yantai, a semi-submersible rig, owned by CIMC and operated by Odfjell Drilling.
The Hamlet partners include Neptune Energy (operator and 30%), Petoro (30%), Wintershall Dea (28%), OKEA (12%).