Eni announces successful drilling of Cape Vulture appraisal well in the Norwegian Sea

Eni announces the successful drilling of Cape Vulture appraisal well in the license PL128/PL128D, located about 7 km north of the Norne FPSO in the northern part of the Norwegian Sea, 180 km from the coast and 3.5 km north of the discovery well. Eni holds an 11.5% stake in the license, while Equinor AS (which is the Operator) a 63.95% and Petoro AS a 24.55%.

San Donato Milanese (Milan), 04 October 2018 – Eni announces the successful drilling of Cape Vulture appraisal well in the license PL128/PL128D, located about 7 km north of the Norne FPSO in the northern part of the Norwegian Sea, 180 km from the coast and 3.5 km north of the discovery well.  Eni holds an 11.5% stake in the license, while Equinor AS (which is the Operator) a 63.95% and Petoro AS a 24.55%.

The appraisal well 6608/10-18 with the two side-tracks 6608/10-18 A and 6608/10-18 B, was drilled in a water depth of 372 m and 167 m down-dip on the target levels of the discovery wells to prove the fluid contacts and the reservoir continuity of the oil bearing intervals of the Lange formation discovered from 6608/10-17 S NFW.

The appraisal well was drilled to a vertical depth of 3437 m below sea level, and reached the Melke Formation of Middle Jurassic Age, hitting three levels of light oil-bearing sandstones in the Cretaceous Lange formation in pressure communication with the discovery well 6608/10-17 S proving the hydraulic continuity within the reservoirs among the two wells.

The primary target proved a total oil column of 230 meters in an 18-34 m thick sandstone interval with good reservoir properties. The secondary target confirmed oil in a 10 meter thick sandstone interval with good reservoir properties, whereas a third oil bearing level of 3 m thickness was encountered in the lower section of the Lange Sequence. Extensive data collection and fluid sampling was carried out on all the targets. 

The well is the second exploratory one in license PL128D. The permit was awarded in APA 2016 – Awards in Pre-Defined Areas. The well will be permanently plugged and abandoned.

The results of the appraisal well confirmed the commercial viability of the discovery with recoverable volumes in the range of 50-70 MBOE with further additional potential.

Cape Vulture due to its proximity is an ideal candidate for its development over Norne FPSO that has large spare capacity and will ensure further extension of Norne FPSO operations. Moreover, it is the result of the development of a new exploration concept for the Nordland Ridge, proving the stratigraphic potential of the Lange Formation on the Eastern Flank of the Nordland High.

Eni took further positioning on this new play with the award in APA 2017 – Awards in Pre-Defined Areas – together with Equinor of two additional licenses located north of Cape Vulture Discovery (PL946 and PL947 both operated by Equinor with a share of 60% and Eni Norge as partner with 40%).

Eni has been present in Norway since 1965, with current production standing at approximately 160,000 boe per day through its subsidiary Eni Norge AS.