Aker BP ASA has raised the estimated size of its recent North Sea discovery to 1.3–2.4 million std cu m of oil equivalent, or 8–15 million bbl, after drilling a horizontal appraisal wellbore on the Symra subsea template, roughly 200 km west of Stavanger.

The revised range compares with a pre-drill estimate of 0.6–1.9 million std cu m (4–12 million bbl). The operator and its licence partners now face two decisions: whether the volumes clear the profitability threshold, and whether the discovery can be tied back to the Aker BP-operated Symra field.

Well results

Well 16/1-EA-4 H was drilled in 116 m of water by the Deep Sea Nordkapp rig as the 11th exploration well in production licence 167. The licence also contains the Verdandi and Lillefix discoveries.

Drilling reached 1,864 m TVD subsea and terminated in the Palaeocene Heimdal formation. The well objectives were to prove Palaeocene reservoir rocks in the Heimdal formation, confirm the reservoir's lateral extent, and verify the presumed oil-water contact.

The well encountered a 14-m gas column and a 44-m oil column in Heimdal sandstone layers. The gas-oil contact came in at 1,776 m subsea. Operators drilled a total of 1,515 reservoir m horizontally through the oil zone, which showed moderate reservoir quality.

Data acquisition included fluid samples and pressure points. The Norwegian Offshore Directorate's completion note confirms the well has been permanently plugged.

Ownership and next steps

Aker BP operates PL 167 with a 50% interest. Equinor Energy AS holds 30% and DNO Norge AS holds the remaining 20%.

The partners will now assess development economics. A tie-back to the Symra infrastructure, which already hosts the appraisal template, would give the discovery a short route to processing and export capacity and is the option under evaluation.

The watch item: a partner decision on commerciality and a possible Symra tie-back concept selection for the enlarged PL 167 volumes.