Wintershall Dea makes Discovery in Norwegian Sea
- Bergknapp oil discovery with resource estimate between 26–97 million boe
- Appraisal measures and development options being considered
Wintershall Dea, Europe’s leading independent gas and oil company, has made an oil discovery at the own-operated Bergknapp prospect in the Norwegian Sea, close to the Maria field. The well, drilled by the Scarabeo 8 drilling rig, encountered an oil column of at least 60 meters in the Garn Formation and an oil column of at least 120 meters in the Tilje Formation, with reservoir qualities ranging from poor to good. Initial recoverable resource estimates put the discovery at between 26 and 97 million barrels of oil equivalent. The license partnership will now initiate studies, investigate potential appraisal measures and development options for the discovery.
“This exciting discovery near existing infrastructure confirms the untapped potential of Norway as a core area for exploration, development and production now and in the future,” said Hugo Dijkgraaf, Wintershall Dea Chief Technology Officer and responsible Executive Board member for global exploration. “As a global company, Wintershall Dea is committed to Norway and to developing new fields like the Bergknapp discovery on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.”
Strategic exploration approach
With Maria and Dvalin Wintershall Dea already has fields in production and development in the area around Bergknapp. Exploring around existing infrastructure is part of Wintershall Dea’s strategy for Norway. Together with its partners, the company will consider future development options for the Bergknapp discovery taking into account the current market environment.
“The Norwegian Sea is a key area for Wintershall Dea Norge. Apart from our other Haltenbanken assets, we are also a key operator in the Vøring basin and have licenses in other areas of the Norwegian Sea. With our investment on the shelf, we are exploring and developing new fields, while also supporting our existing fields and infrastructure,” said Alv Solheim, Wintershall Dea Norge Managing Director.
Wintershall Dea is operator of the discovery in PL 836S with a 40% share. License partners are Spirit Energy Norway AS (30%) and DNO Norge AS (30%). The well will be temporarily suspended, while a future production test is being considered.
Wintershall Dea and Bergknapp:
Wintershall Dea has been active on the Norwegian Continental Shelf for more than 45 years and is now Norway’s third biggest gas producer. Today the company has more than 100 licences – around a third of them as operator – and a production volume of 146,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (2019). In the latest APA licence award in early 2020, Wintershall Dea was awarded nine additional new licences (three as operator) underpinning that Norway is one of its areas for growth.
About Bergknapp:
- Production Licence: PL 836S
- Norwegian Sea
- Distance to Maria field: 8 kilometers
- Distance to shore (Kristiansund): 185 kilometers
- Water depth: 312 meters below sea level
- Partnership: Wintershall Dea (operator, 40%), Spirit Energy Norway AS (30%), DNO Norge AS (30 %)
About Wintershall Dea
Wintershall Dea is Europe’s leading independent natural gas and oil company with more than 120 years of experience as an operator and project partner along the entire E&P value chain. The company with German roots and headquarters in Kassel and Hamburg explores for and produces gas and oil in 13 countries worldwide in an efficient and responsible manner. With activities in Europe, Russia, Latin America and the MENA region (Middle East & North Africa), Wintershall Dea has a global upstream portfolio and, with its participation in natural gas transport, is also active in the midstream business.
Wintershall Dea was formed from the merger of Wintershall Holding GmbH and DEA Deutsche Erdoel AG, in 2019. Today, the company employs around 2,800 people worldwide from over 60 nations.
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