Sokkeldirektoratet

Oil and gas discovery near the Balder field in the North Sea – 25/7-7

11/12/2019 ConocoPhillips Scandinavia AS, operator of production licence 782 S, has completed the drilling of wildcat well 25/7-7.

The well was drilled about 15 kilometres northwest of the Balder field in the central part of the North Sea and 205 kilometres west of Stavanger.

The primary and secondary exploration targets for the well were to prove petroleum in Upper Jurassic reservoir rocks (Intra-Draupne and Heather Formation sandstones, respectively).

In the primary exploration target, the well encountered two separate gas/condensate and oil-bearing intervals, with sandy layers in the Draupne Formation totalling about 25 metres with reservoir properties varying from poor to very good. No hydrocarbon/water contact was encountered. Thin water-bearing siltstone layers were encountered in the secondary exploration target in the Heather Formation.

Preliminary estimates place the size of the discovery between 1 and 10 million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable oil equivalent. The licensees will further assess the well result with regard to delineation/profitability, as well as investigation of nearby prospects.

The well was not formation-tested, but data has been collected and samples have been taken.

This is the first exploration well in production licence 782 S. The licence was awarded in APA 2014.

The well was drilled to a vertical depth of 4705 metres below sea level, and it was terminated in the Heather Formation in the Middle Jurassic.

Water depth at the site is 127 metres. The well will now be permanently plugged and abandoned.

Well 25/7-7 was drilled by the Leiv Eiriksson drilling facility, which will now drill a wildcat well in production licence 917, where ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS is the operator.

Map of well 25-7-7

 

Contact
postboks@sodir.no

Tel: +47 51 87 60 00

Updated: 2/10/2025

Latest news

Ensemble data: Updated version of guideline
6/16/2025 In 2023, a group under the FORCE umbrella drew up a guideline for sharing ensemble data in production licences. It has now been revised to incorporate feedback received.
One company offered acreage for CO2 storage
6/13/2025 Today, Equinor Low Carbon Solution AS has been offered an exploration licence for CO2 storage in the North Sea.
Drilling permit for wellbore 7117/4-1
6/12/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor Energy AS drilling permit for wellbore 7117/4-1 in production licence 1238.
Full house to hear about new technology on the NCS
6/6/2025 Technology is one of the tools that can help generate additional values from the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS). At Technology Day new technology from different suppliers are presented.
New interactive map of deep sea data
6/5/2025 Today, the Norwegian Offshore Directorate is launching an interactive map, Deep Sea Surveys.
New Director of Offshore development and technology
6/5/2025 Producing the resources on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) so they generate the greatest possible values for society is an important driving force for the Norwegian Offshore Directorate's new director.
Proved suitable properties for CO2 injection and storage (9/6-1)
6/2/2025 A wildcat well drilled by Harbour Energy Norge and licensees in the “Havstjerne” storage project confirmed a reservoir that is suitable for injection and storage of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Oil discovery and dry well in the North Sea (31/4-A-23 F and 31/4-A-23 G)
5/28/2025 OKEA and the licensees in production licence 055 have discovered oil along the eastern flank of the Brage field.
Drilling permit for wellbore 35/11-31 S
5/23/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor Energy AS drilling permit for wellbore 35/11-31 S in production licence 090.
Drilling permit for wellbore 15/5-8 S and 15/5-8 A
5/22/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has granted Equinor Energy AS drilling permit for wellbore 15/5-8 S and 15/5-8 A in production licence 1140.