Aker BP, a Norwegian oil and gas company, has announced a new oil discovery in the Norwegian Sea, approximately 6 kilometers southwest of the Skarv field’s floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) unit. The discovery, located in production license 212, was made using a semi-submersible rig owned by Italy’s Saipem. Aker BP holds a 30% stake in the license, alongside partners Equinor (30%), Harbour Energy (25%), and ORLEN Upstream Norway (15%).

Scarabeo 8 rig

The exploration wells, 6507/5-13 S and 6507/5-13 A, were drilled to investigate the E prospect near the Skarv field. Well 6507/5-13 S targeted petroleum in the Fangst and Båt groups, identifying a 14-meter oil column in the Garn Formation within 43 meters of sandstone with moderate reservoir quality. The oil/water contact was recorded at 3,702 meters below sea level. Additionally, hydrocarbons were found in multiple sandstone layers from the Early Cretaceous, with an estimated oil/water contact at 3,414 meters below sea level. This well reached a measured depth of 4,022 meters and was terminated in the Åre Formation.

The second well, 6507/5-13 A, aimed to delineate the Early Cretaceous discovery but found a water-saturated reservoir of moderate quality. Drilled to a measured depth of 3,607 meters, it was terminated in the Melke Formation. Both wells, located in 383 meters of water depth, were plugged and abandoned after extensive data and sample collection, as formation testing was not conducted.

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate estimates the Garn Formation discovery to hold between 0.48 and 1.11 million standard cubic meters of recoverable oil equivalent, equivalent to 3-7 million barrels. A smaller Early Cretaceous discovery was also noted, with 0.16-0.32 million standard cubic meters of recoverable oil equivalent, or 1-2 million barrels. The licensees are evaluating a potential tie-back of the Garn Formation discovery to the FPSO Skarv.