7324/6-1

General

Well 7324/6-1 was drilled to test the Sputnik prospect in the Hoop Fault Complex on the Bjarmeland Platform in the Barents Sea. The prospect had several prospective targets found hydrocarbon-bearing in neighbouring wells. The primary objective was to test the hydrocarbon potential and phase in the Late Carnian interval in the Snadd Formation of Middle to Late Triassic age, called Carn03. Secondary objectives of the well were to clarify whether there was an oil leg present below the depth of the gas-water contact encountered in Well 7325/4-1 (Stø Formation), as well as testing two secondary targets in the Early to Middle Carnian interval of the Snadd formation (Carn02 & Carn01).

Operations and results

The well was entered with the semi-submersible drilling rig West Hercules on 18 June 2019 and drilled vertically to TD at 1600 m (1599.5 m TVD) in the Late Triassic Snadd Formation. The well was drilled down to 746 m with sea water and hi-vis sweeps and from 746 m to TD with Exploradrill oil-based mud.

The Stø Formation was penetrated at 792 m and was found to be water bearing with good oil shows. The formation consists of a homogenous sandstone body. The top of Snadd Formation was encountered at 854 m and is continuously interbedded with claystone, siltstone, and sandstone intervals of varying thickness from submeter to more than ten meters in vertical scale. Carbonaceous material, especially in the sandstone was locally observed. The main targeted Carn03 was penetrated at 1061.5 m and consists of sandstone, interbedded with several thinner claystone b