Spirit Energy and its partners have completed a test programme and drilled an appraisal sidetrack well at the Bergknapp oil discovery well in the Norwegian Sea. The operator reports total recoverable resources between 40 and 84 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe). In addition, the well discovered gas condensate at a deeper level in the Åre Formation.

Cecilie Hiorth, exploration manager at Spirit Energy Norway, said: “The test programme and the appraisal well were a success and significantly improved our understanding of the discovery. We will now work with the operator and the other partners to evaluate the discovery and look at potential development options.”

The re-entry operation with the Deepsea Aberdeen semi-submersible rig, included an extensive drill stem test programme (DST) – a procedure for isolating and testing the pressure, permeability, and productive capacity, and the drilling of an appraisal sidetrack. The operation delineated the oil discoveries in the Garn and Tilje Formations and proved additional gas resources in the Åre Formation.

Core area for Spirit

The Bergknapp discovery is located approximately 200 kilometers north of Kristiansund and 8 kilometers west of the Maria field, where Spirit Energy is partner, in an area close to existing infrastructure.

Hiorth said: “Haltenbanken in the Norwegian Sea is a core area for Spirit. Here we have production from the Maria field and developments such as Halten East and the Spirit-operated Fogelberg discovery, plus a number of active exploration licenses.”

The Bergknapp discovery well was originally drilled to target depth in April 2020 but had to be temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 issues before the planned data acquisition programme could be completed.

Hiorth said: “The aim of the appraisal campaign was to gather sufficient data to determine if Bergknapp is a viable development. We should now have the information we need to assess the future of this discovery.”

Spirit Energy holds a 30% interest in the Bergknapp discovery (Production License 836 S). Wintershall Dea is operator with a 40% share, while DNO Norge holds the remaining 30%.

About Spirit Energy

Spirit Energy Limited is a leading independent oil and gas operator in Europe, with 2020 production of nearly 45 mmboe, and 2020 year-end 2P reserves of 246 mmboe.
Spirit Energy has operated and non-operated interests across the UK, Norway and the Netherlands, with 33 producing fields and nearly 150 exploration licenses.
Employing more than 800 people, Spirit is headquartered in the UK, with offices in Staines-upon-Thames and Aberdeen in the UK; Stavanger in Norway, and Hoofddorp in the Netherlands. The business also owns and operates the Barrow Gas Terminals in the UK.
The company is owned by Centrica plc (69%) and Stadtwerke München Group (31%).