Oil discovery in Sara-1 exploration well in the Danish North Sea
As operator of Licence 6/95 DONG E&P A/S has drilled the Sara-1(5604/16-1) exploration well in the westernmost part of the Danish North Sea. The well discovered oil in sandstone of Paleocene age.
Sara-1 was drilled as a deviated well and reached its total depth in chalk at 2075 metres below mean sea level. The well encountered oil in sandstones above the chalk and measurements were carried out in the well. In order to further appraise the extent and quality of the oil discovery a side-track was drilled to a position approx. 1½ kilometres away from the main well. Coring and comprehensive measurements were carried out and fluid samples were taken in the side-track.
The licensee will now evaluate the results of Sara-1 and make plans for the additional work that is necessary to determine if the oil discovery can be produced commercially.
Sara-1 was spudded 18 December 2010 with the jack-up rig Mærsk Resolute at the position 56° 32' 46.33" N; 04° 58' 17.76" E (UTM zone 31; 6 268 753.06 N; 621 221.11 E), where the water depth is 63 metres.
Not all the companies in licence 6/95 wanted to participate in the well, and consequently Sara-1 was drilled as a sole risk operation. The table below shows the companies’ shares in the Sara-1 well and in the licence.
Company Share in well (%) Share in licence (%)DONG E&P A/S
100
50
Altinex Oil Denmark A/S Noreco)
20
Siri (UK) Limited Noreco)
30
The well is now being plugged and abandoned. The jack-up rig Mærsk Resolute will subsequently move to the Nini field in order to drill a development well.
See attached map.
Contact: Senior geologist Steffen B. Olsen Office phone: (+45) 33 92 66 73, cell phone (+45) 20 47 01 67, e-mail: sbo@ens.dk
Steffen Bjørn Olsen
Specialkonsulent
Center for Energiressourcer
Tlf.: 33 92 66 73
sbo@ens.dk