Aker BP and Equinor have completed well 15/6-17 at the Svarteknippa prospect in the Norwegian North Sea, with the exploration campaign ending without a hydrocarbon discovery.
Drilling results showed 97 m of the Vestland Group near the main exploration interval. Of this section, 8 m consisted of sandstone with moderate to poor reservoir properties. Weak hydrocarbon indications were recorded, but the well was classified as dry.
The programme also tested the Draupne and Heather formations as a secondary exploration target. The well passed through 191 m of the Draupne Formation and 104 m of the Heather Formation, without confirming reservoir rocks in either interval.
The primary objective had been to test for hydrocarbons in Middle Jurassic rocks of the Hugin and Sleipner formations. Data gathering during the operation included recovery of a 54 m core from the Vestland Group.
Well 15/6-17 reached a vertical depth of 3,704 m below sea level before terminating in the Triassic Smith Bank Formation. Saipem carried out the drilling with the Scarabeo 8 semi-submersible rig in 102 m of water. The well has been permanently plugged and abandoned.
The Svarteknippa prospect lies about 15 km west of the Solveig field and around 220 km west of Stavanger. Well 15/6-17 was the first exploration well drilled in production licence 979, which was awarded in Norway’s APA 2018 licensing round.
Aker BP operates PL 979 with a 60% interest, while Equinor holds 40%. Norwegian Offshore Directorate licence records show that the ownership structure has been in place since 1 March 2019.
The Norwegian Offshore Directorate describes this part of the central North Sea as a mature exploration area. Recent activity there has largely involved smaller discoveries near existing infrastructure, with Aker BP and Equinor among the main companies conducting exploration in the area.
