Solsort-1 exploration well makes interesting oil discovery in the Danish North Sea

3. December 2010

As operator DONG E&P A/S discovered oil in the Solsort-1 exploration well in the westernmost part of the Danish North Sea.

As operator of Licence 4/98 DONG E&P A/S has drilled the Solsort-1(5504/26-5) exploration well in the westernmost part of the Danish North Sea. The well discovered oil in sandstone of Paleogene age.

Solsort-1 was drilled as a vertical well and reached its total depth in chalk at 3041 metres below mean sea level. The well encountered oil in sandstones above the chalk. Cores were taken, measurements carried out and oil samples were collected. In order to further appraise the extent and quality of the discovery three side-tracks were drilled in different directions – the longest with a reach of more than 1½ kilometres. Coring and comprehensive measurements were carried out in the side-tracks as well.

The oil companies will now evaluate the results of Solsort-1 and make plans for the additional work that is necessary to determine if the oil discovery can be produced commercially.

Solsort-1 was drilled in cooperation between the licensees in the two licences 4/98 and 3/09, who both paid 50 % of the well. Licence 3/09 was granted in 2009 as a so-called neighbouring block to licence 4/98.

Solsort-1 was spudded 15 September 2010 with the jack-up rig Mærsk Resolute at the position 56° 08' 55.04" N; 04° 18' 21.87" E (UTM zone 31; 6223526.87 N; 581145.49 E), where the water depth is 62 metres.

The same group of oil companies participate in the two licences 4/98 and 3/09:

Company                                                              %   DONG E&P A/S                   35  Bayerngas Danmark ApS   30  VNG Danmark ApS    15  Nordsøfonden (The Danish North Sea Fund)  20
The well is now being plugged and abandoned. The jack-up rig Mærsk Resolute will subsequently move to the Siri area in order to drill the Sara-1 exploration well in Licence 6/95.

See attached map

Contact: Senior geologist Steffen B. Olsen Office phone: (+45) 33 92 66 73, mobile phone (+45) 20 47 01 67, e-mail: sbo@ens.dk

Map of the Solsort-1 exploration well

Steffen Bjørn Olsen
Specialkonsulent
Center for Energiressourcer
Tlf.: 33 92 66 73
sbo@ens.dk

Contacts

Ture Falbe-Hansen
Head of Press (+45) 2513 7846
Laura Andersen
Press officer (+45) 3395 0906

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