StatoilHydro claimed that the presence of a considerable oil column has been confirmed under the Dagny structure in the North Sea. It also said that gas has been proven in the deep-water Snefrid South prospect near the Luva discovery in the Norwegian Sea. Chief executive Helge Lund expressed that their exploration activity this year is very high, both on the NCS and internationally.
According to Lund the oil discovery at Sleipner represents a highlight in this year’s exploration programme on the NCS. He added that new ideas prove successful in a part of the North Sea that has been explored since the 1960s. It is said that the total recoverable volume is estimated at 100-125 million barrels of oil equivalent. Tim Dodson, senior vice president for StatoilHydro’s explorations on the Norwegian continental shelf, said that the Sleipner area is still very prospective, and this well confirms that there is also a good chance of making oil discoveries in this area.
The Dagny discovery is located some 10 kilometres north-west of Sleipner West. Development of the discovery in association with the Sleipner field will be considered, says Dodson. The discovery is estimated to contain some 4 billion standard cubic metres of recoverable gas. He also told that Snefrid will be developed in combination with the Luva discovery. He emphasises that the drilling of the exploration well in the Snefrid South prospect is an important step in order to accelerate the development of the Luva discovery, which was made by BP in 1997.
