Cairn Energy's first exploration well in its Norwegian-sector licence area has drawn a blank on oil discovery.
The Edinburgh-based exploration group announced has been reported by the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) regarding PL758, containing the Lynghaug prospect, in which Cairn has a 50% working interest through Capricorn Norge a wholly owned subsidiary of Cairn.
Capricorn Norge, operator of production licence 758, has completed the drilling of wildcat well 6508/1-3. Dry well southeast of the Norne field in the Norwegian Sea.
The well was drilled about six kilometres south-east of the Norne field and 200 kilometres northwest of Brønnøysund.
The objective of the well was to prove petroleum in Lower Jurassic reservoir rocks (the Åre formation).
"Driling encountered about 170 metres of alternating layers of sandstone, claystone and coal in the Åre formation, of which a total of nearly 50 metres of sandstone with very good reservoir quality. There are no traces of petroleum in the well, which is classified as dry,'' reported Cairn.
This is the first exploration well in production licence 758, which was awarded in 2013.
The well was drilled to a vertical depth of 1663 metres below the sea surface and was terminated in the Åre formation in the Lower Jurassic. Water depth at the site is 390 metres.
The well, drilled by the Transocean Arctic drilling facility, will now be permanently plugged and abandoned.
The exploration rig will move on to drill wildcat well 6608/11-9 in production licence 842 in the Norwegian Sea, where Capricorn Norge is the operator.
