• Appraisal well completed on the Adriana gas / condensate discovery
• Increased recoverable volume estimate of 28-43 million boe
• Subsea tie-back options under consideration

Wintershall Dea and its partners, Petoro, Aker BP, and PGNIG, have successfully completed an appraisal well on the Adriana gas and condensate discovery in the Norwegian Sea. They are now evaluating potential development options.

The appraisal well, drilled with the Transocean Norge rig, encountered high-quality reservoirs in the primary target within the Cretaceous Lysing Formation. Following the completion of the well, the estimated recoverable volumes for the Adriana discovery have been revised upwards, from an initial 19-31 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) to a new estimate of 28-43 million boe.

“Our exploration strategy, as a subsea specialist, focuses on investing in areas close to existing infrastructure, where we already have a sound understanding of the geology and potential development options. This improves the possibility of fast-tracking discoveries into new subsea developments. The promising results from the Adriana appraisal well put us in a strong position to consider potential development strategies for this discovery”, said Roy Davies, VP Exploration & Subsurface for Wintershall Dea Norway.

Key area Haltenbanken

The Adriana discovery was made in 2021, as part of a multi-level discovery including the Dvalin North gas field, which is already being developed as a subsea tie-back to the Heidrun platform via the Wintershall Dea operated Dvalin field. The discovery lies 270 km north of Kristiansund on the west coast of Norway, in the Haltenbanken area of the Norwegian Sea close to the Dvalin, Aerfugl and Skarv fields.

“This region is pivotal to our exploration and production strategy in Norway. We are currently developing the Dvalin North discovery and hold shares in several other partner-operated discoveries and development projects in the area. This includes the ongoing Idun North and Alve North developments, which are operated by Aker BP”, said Michael Zechner, Managing Director of Wintershall Dea Norway.

A planned sidetrack to appraise the deeper Sabina discovery had to be abandoned for technical reasons. The partnership will consider re-entry during 2024 or 2025. The Transocean Norge rig has now moved to the Wintershall Dea operated Maria field to commence drilling operations in relation to the Maria Phase 2 development.