Aker BP makes gas discovery in Barents Sea’s Ferdinand nord well

Aker BP has reported a notable gas discovery at the exploration well 7324/6-2, known as “Ferdinand nord,” located in the Barents Sea. This discovery is the first for production licence 1170, which Aker BP was awarded during the Awards in Predefined Areas in 2022 (APA 2021). The exploration well was drilled using the Scarabeo 8 rig, marking a critical step in the region’s energy development.

Preliminary assessments suggest that the discovery could yield between 0.52 to 0.75 million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable oil equivalent (o.e.), which translates to approximately 3.3 to 4.7 million barrels of oil equivalent. This discovery adds significant potential value to Aker BP’s portfolio and could influence future developmental strategies in the area.

The primary exploration target of well 7324/6-2 was to identify petroleum in Middle Jurassic to Upper Triassic reservoir rocks within the Stø and Fruholmen formations. The well successfully encountered a 12-metre gas column in the Stø Formation across two sandstone layers, demonstrating good to very good reservoir quality. Notably, the gas/water contact was not encountered, and the Fruholmen Formation did not reveal reservoir rock.

In addition to the primary targets, the well aimed to explore the Upper Triassic reservoir rocks in the Snadd Formation. It encountered a 6-metre gas column with moderate reservoir quality and about 40 metres of sandstone with poor reservoir quality, showing traces of hydrocarbons.

The well reached a vertical depth of 1246 metres below sea level and was terminated in the Snadd Formation. Throughout the drilling process, Aker BP conducted extensive data acquisition and sampling, although no formation testing was carried out. The well has now been permanently plugged and abandoned.

The discovery at Ferdinand nord is a promising development for Aker BP, indicating the untapped potential of the Barents Sea regions. The significant volumes of gas discovered, along with the high-quality reservoirs, present an opportunity for Aker BP to expand its operations and potentially lead to a new production hub in the Arctic region.