Equinor finds oil at Egyptian Vulture offshore mid-Norway

Equinor has discovered oil in the Egyptian Vulture prospect in the Norwegian Sea.

According to partner Longboat Energy, well 6407/1-9 in licence PL 939, drilled by the semi-submersible West Hercules, encountered light oil in the chief target in the Lower Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Intra-Lange formation, with a 37-metre (121-foot) oil-filled gross interval.

The upper part of the Lange sand interval displayed a high net-to-gross ratio and porosities of around 16%. The well will now be P&A’d, having reached TVD of 3,936 metres (12,913 feet).

Early estimates suggest recoverable resources in the range 19-63 MMboe, with in-place oil at 220-440 MMboe. But this analysis is based on conservative recovery factors and further appraisal will be needed to assess the flow potential of the reservoir and future development wells.

A positive result could materially raise the resource estimate for the discovery, which extends across an 80-square kilometre (31-square mile) area, as defined by the seismic amplitude anomaly.

Egyptian Vulture is close to offshore infrastructure with export outlets for both the oil and gas. The well was drilled 20 km (12.4 miles) from the Equinor-operated Åsgard field and 23 km (14 miles) from the Kristin field.

Helge Hammer, chief executive of Longboat, said: “Egyptian Vulture is the second well in our seven well drilling programme and with the third well, the Aker BP-operated Mugnetind exploration well in the southern North Sea, also well under way.

“The fourth well in the programme, Ginny/Hermine, is also anticipated to spud before year end.”

Equinor has secured permission from the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate to use the same rig for exploration drilling 11 km (6.8 miles) north-west of the Drauegn field, also in the Norwegian Sea.

Well 6407/9-13 will be the second on PL 1060, awarded in February 2020.

Source: Offshore Magazine