Equinor has made a new oil discovery in Snøfonn Nord, exploration well 7220/8-2 S, by the Johan Castberg field in the Barents Sea. The well was drilled five kilometres south-southeast of discovery well 7220/8-1, which is in the Johan Castberg field, and 210 kilometres northwest of Hammerfes. Equinor is the operator of production licence 532. Preliminary calculations of the size of the discovery indicate between 37 and 50 million barrels of recoverable oil. Together with the other licensees, Vår Energi and Petoro, Equinor will consider tying the discovery to the Johan Castberg field.The Snøfonn Nord discovery was made exactly one year after the Isflak discovery in the same area, but is probably somewhat bigger. Drilling of the well was carried out by the Transocean Enabler rig and is now completed. Transocean Enabler will move 800 metres further west in PL 532 to drill a new exploration well. Snøfonn Nord is the 10th discovery in the Castberg licence and the 12th exploration well to be drilled in PL 532. The production licence was awarded in the 20th licencing round in 2009.The Johan Castberg field is located in the Barents Sea, 100 kilometres north of the Snøhvit field and 240 kilometres from Melkøya. The water depth is 360-390 metres. Johan Castberg consists of the Skrugard, Havis and Drivis discoveries. Estimated recoverable volumes are between 450 and 650 million barrels of oil equivalent. The Johan Castberg production vessel and subsea facility have been designed for producing 190 000 barrels per day and for a life of 30 years. The field development comprises a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel and an extensive subsea development with a total of 30 wells distributed on 10 templates and 2 satellite structures. Johan Castberg will have a supply and helicopter base in Hammerfest and an operations organisation in Harstad.
Equinor has made a new oil discovery in Snøfonn Nord, exploration well 7220/8-2 S, by the Johan Castberg field in the Barents Sea. The well was drilled five kilometres south-southeast of discovery well 7220/8-1, which is in the Johan Castberg field, and 210 kilometres northwest of Hammerfes. Equinor is the operator of production licence 532. Preliminary calculations of the size of the discovery indicate between 37 and 50 million barrels of recoverable oil. Together with the other licensees, Vår Energi and Petoro, Equinor will consider tying the discovery to the Johan Castberg field.The Snøfonn Nord discovery was made exactly one year after the Isflak discovery in the same area, but is probably somewhat bigger. Drilling of the well was carried out by the Transocean Enabler rig and is now completed. Transocean Enabler will move 800 metres further west in PL 532 to drill a new exploration well. Snøfonn Nord is the 10th discovery in the Castberg licence and the 12th exploration well to be drilled in PL 532. The production licence was awarded in the 20th licencing round in 2009.The Johan Castberg field is located in the Barents Sea, 100 kilometres north of the Snøhvit field and 240 kilometres from Melkøya. The water depth is 360-390 metres. Johan Castberg consists of the Skrugard, Havis and Drivis discoveries. Estimated recoverable volumes are between 450 and 650 million barrels of oil equivalent. The Johan Castberg production vessel and subsea facility have been designed for producing 190 000 barrels per day and for a life of 30 years. The field development comprises a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel and an extensive subsea development with a total of 30 wells distributed on 10 templates and 2 satellite structures. Johan Castberg will have a supply and helicopter base in Hammerfest and an operations organisation in Harstad.
