Languages

Another dry well in the Barents Sea

The Polar Pioneer (statoilhydro.com)

Amid major expectations for a new significant oil and gas discovery in the Barents Sea, the Eni company confirms that the recently drilled Kobbe well in the area is dry.

Location

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate confirms to E24.no that the drilling at the Kobbe, Stø and Snadd formations was not successful with regard to oil and gas volumes. The well is classified as dry, the directorate says. The formations are part of license number 489 and are located about 50 km west of the Goliat oil field and 115 km northwest of the Hammerfest town.

The license is operated by Eni (40%) with Statoil (40%) and Petoro (20%) as co-owners. The well is part of the Lunde structure, and is considered controversial by environmentalists because of the short distance to land. 

The dry well is a disappointment for the oil industry. Still, the oilmen have several other drilling projects in the pipeline. Eni is preparing for three more drilling operations in the area. In addition, five more operations will be conducted by the companies Statoil, GDF Suez, Dong and Total, Offshore.no reports.

The industry now also with excitement await results from Statoil’s recent drilling at the Skrugard.

Read also: Statoil getting ready for more drilling in Barents Sea

It is the Polar Pioneer rig, which has been doing most of the recent drilling operations in the Barents Sea.

As previously reported by BarentsObserver, 2011 will see a major increase in drilling in the area. In the 21st Norwegian license round a total of 51 new blocks in the Barents Sea and 43 new blocks in the Norwegian Sea are included. They will form the basis for production licenses issued in spring 2011.