Drilling has kicked off on a new Norwegian exploration on the Butch East prospect following the 2011 Butch field discovery and near to existing infrastructure.

Butch East, operated by Centrica,. is being drilled with the Maersk Giant jackup in the Norwegian North Sea as the first of a two-well back to back well programme in PL405 and PL405B.

The well is being drilled in a water depth of 65 metres, at a location seven kilometres from the Ula field – now operated by Centrica after taking it over from BP – and ten kilometres from the Tambar oil field and 20 km from Gyda.

Drilling comes after the main Butch discovery in late 2011 which discovered light crude oil in an Upper Jurassic Ula formation.

Drilling partner Faroe Petroleum points out that the well is being drilled after licence operator Centrica Energy Norway acquired quality seismic data in the area which has been applied in the planning of two further exploration wells on the eastern and south‐western sides of the central Butch salt structure.

Development planning for the Butch main discovery is already underway while Centrica also plans to drill at Butch East and South in parallel.

“Butch East is the third well to spud in our near-term six well exploration programme,” points out Faroe Petroleum chief executive Graham Stewart. “This exciting exploration campaign commenced with the significant Snilehorn discovery announced last month, and continues with the Novus well, currently drilling, close to the producing Heidrun oil field. Following these wells, we also look forward to the drilling of the Solberg and Pil prospects, both in the Norwegian Sea.”

 

source : offshore.no