30/3-8 A

General

Well 30/3-8 A is a sidetrack to well 30/3-8 S and was drilled as an appraisal well on the Veslefrikk Field on the northern part of the Brage Horst in the North Sea.

Operations and results

Well 30/3-8 A was kicked off from 4106 m in 30/3-8 S on 5 May 2000. I was drilled through slot 7 on the Veslefrikk A platform to 5021 m. As with the primary 30/3-8 S hole problems occurred, possibly connected to a fault, and it proved impossible to run 9 5/8" liner past 4720 m. The hole was then temporary abandoned from 22 May up to 29 November 2000 when it was re-entered again and a technical sidetrack was kicked off from a window in the 9 5/8" liner at 4435 m in the Oseberg Formation. This sidetrack, named 30/3-8 A T2, was drilled to final TD at 6208 m (3330 m) in the Ness Formation. The well path in the T2 track had a deviation beginning with ca 75 deg and ended at ca 90 deg at TD, lifting the well path more than 10 m TVD above the A-track in order to avoid the troublesome Drake Formation. The well path was kept mainly within the Middle Jurassic Brent Group, crossing faults 16 times. The A and A T2 well tracks were drilled with Versavert oil based mud all through.

A total of 60 m (10 - 12 m TVD) of net sand with an average porosity of 15 - 16 % and an average hydrocarbon saturation of 50 - 55 % was interpreted in the interval 5265 m to 6129 m in the A T2. This is based on CPI logs, and the hydrocarbon type could not be established. The gas log could indicate oil / condensate in the upper part of the well while the lower HC filled zones probably contain gas. No contacts were established.

No cores were cut. MDT pressures were recorded only in the A track from 4125 to 4229. No wi