Orlen Upstream Norway and its partner Norske Shell have drilled a dry well, wildcat well 6305/10-1 'Tomcat', in the southern part of the Norwegian Sea.
This was the first exploration well in production licence 1055, which was awarded in 2020 (Awards in predefined areas (APA) 2019).
The drilling activity was carried out by the Deepsea Yantai rig, about 40 kms south of the Ormen Lange field.
Geological info
The objective of the well was to prove petroleum in Upper Cretaceous reservoir rocks in the Lysing Formation. The secondary exploration target was to prove petroleum in Upper Cretaceous reservoir rocks belonging to the Kvitnos and Lysing formations.
The primary exploration target was encountered 3806 metres below sea level. The reservoir zone was 118 metres thick with alternating siltstone, limestone and some thin sandstone layers with generally poor reservoir quality.
No reservoir was proven in the secondary exploration targets.
Well 6305/10-1 was drilled to a vertical depth of 3993 metres below sea level, and was terminated in the Lange Formation in the Lower Cretaceous.
Water depth at the site is 367 metres. The well has been permanently plugged and abandoned.
Source: Norwegian Offshore Directorate
