16/2-17 B

General

Well 16/2-17 B is a geological sidetrack to well 16/2-17 S. The sidetrack targeted the Cliffhanger South prospect on the western side of the main western bounding fault on the Johan Sverdrup Discovery. The primary objective of 16/2-17 B was to investigate whether the Intra-Draupne Formation sandstone is present west of the main bounding fault. A secondary objective was to investigate the hydrocarbon potential of the Basement, which is expected to be directly beneath the Jurassic reservoir.

Operations and results

Appraisal sidetrack well 16/2-17 B was drilled with the semi-submersible installation Ocean Vanguard. It was kicked off from 600 m in the primary well bore on 20 May 2013 and drilled to TD at 2200 m (1937 m TVD) in pre-Devonian granitic basement. No significant problem was encountered in the operations. The well was drilled with XP-07 oil based mud.

This well did not encounter any Jurassic strata, nor any sands with potential reservoir properties. The top of the Basement was encountered at 2133 m, which was 23 m TVD deeper than prognosed. The granitic Basement contained hydrocabons; however, the fractured top was disappointing concerning reservoir properties. Apart from the shows in top of the granitic basement, no oil shows above the oil-based mud were recorded in the well.

Three cores were cut through the target prospect, from 2087 in the Rødby Formation to 2144.5 m in the Basement. The basement core recovered 70.5% (including ca 7.6 m of the basement); the two others had 100% recovery. MDT pressure evaluation was attempted at four depths in the top of the basement without success due to tight rock. No fluid samples were taken.

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