Sokkeldirektoratet

Oil and gas discovery in the North Sea (31/1-4)

SODIR_LETEBOR.jpg

12/17/2024 Equinor and its partners have discovered oil and gas in wildcat well 31/1-4 (“Ringand) in the North Sea.

Preliminary estimates indicate the size of the discovery is between 0.3 and 2 million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable oil equivalent, which corresponds to 1.9-12.6 million barrels.

Well 31/1-4 was drilled by the Deepsea Atlantic rig. Production licence 923 borders Troll øst and the Fram area. Previous discoveries made in the area include 31/1-2 S (“Røver nord”) and 31/1-3 S (“Røver sør”).

The licensees have assessed the previous discoveries as commercially profitable, and they will consider development solutions tied back to existing infrastructure.

“Ringand” was exploration well number seven in production licence 923/ 923B. This well is registered as the first well in production licence 923 B.

Production licence 923 was part of the Awards in Predefined Areas - APA 2017 – awarded in 2018, and production licence 923 B was awarded in 2022 (APA 2021)

Geological information

The primary exploration target for the well was to prove petroleum in Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks in the Ness, Etive and Oseberg formations. The secondary exploration target was to prove petroleum in Lower Jurassic reservoir rocks in the Cook Formation.

Well 31/1-4 encountered a 112-metre gas column in the Ness, Etive and Oseberg formations, as well as a 16-metre oil column in the Oseberg Formation.

There were 14 metres of poor-quality sandstone reservoir in the Ness Formation and 46 metres of sandstone reservoir in the Etive and Oseberg formations, with poor to moderate quality.

In addition, a 13-metre gas column was encountered in sandstone with moderate reservoir quality in the Drake Formation.

The well encountered a 6-metre aquiferous sandstone layer with moderate reservoir quality in the Cook Formation.

The well was not formation-tested, but extensive data acquisition and sampling have been carried out.

The gas/oil contact was encountered at 3489 metres and the oil/water contact was encountered at 3505 metres below sea level.

Well 31/1-4 was drilled to a vertical depth of 3772 metres below sea level, and was terminated in the Amundsen Formation in the Lower Jurassic.
Water depth at the site is 304 metres. The well has been permanently plugged and abandoned.

Map showing the location of well 31/1-4

 

Contact
Bjørn Rasen

Tel: +47 51 87 60 00

Updated: 12/17/2024

Latest news

Appraisal well confirms oil discovery in the Norwegian Sea (6507/5-12 S)
6/19/2025 ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS, operator of production licence 891, has concluded drilling of the second appraisal well, 6507/5-12 S, on the 6507/5-10 S (Slagugle) oil discovery .
Expedition to map the environment
6/18/2025 The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has participated in research expeditions for many years in an effort to acquire more knowledge about the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) and the resources in the subsurface. Now we’ve also gathered environmental data.
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.