Norwegian company discovers gas while looking for oil in Arctic
“This is not the result we were hoping for,” says Jez Averty with Statoil after latest Barents Sea drilling.
The gas discovery was made in the Blåmann well, between the Snøhvit natural gas field and Goliat oil field in the western part of the Norwegian sector of the Barents Sea.
Statoil reports recoverable volumes are estimated at 23 billion standard cubic metres, or approximately 10-20 million barrels of oil equivalent.
The company, having its most extensive drilling season in the Barents Sea, is disappointed.
“We were exploring for oil and this is not the result we were hoping for,” says Jez Averty, senior vice president for exploration in Norway and the UK.
Good news for Statoil’s LNG plant
Averty, however, says the gas discovery “has the potential to contribute additional resources to the Snøhvit project.”
Snøhvit is Statoil’s gas field supplying the world’s northernmost operating liquid natural gas plant in Hammerfest on Norway’s Barents Sea coast.
The Blåmann well, now plugged, is located some 21 kilometres southeast of the Snøhvit field.
Statoil continues its drilling campaign and the rig “Songa Enabler” is already on the move towards the Hoop area further north in the Barents Sea.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Arctic offshore drilling too dangerous: Trudeau, Radio Canada International
Finland: Chinese investors back out of 2 biofuels projects in Finland, The Independent Barents Observer
Germany: Cheap oil from the Arctic? Fake news, says climate economist Kemfert, blog by Irene Quaile, Deutsche Welle
Norway: Norwegian gas power plant to close after big losses, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Yamal LNG welcomes first tanker, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Swedish city of Umeå paves the way for green electric bus revolution, Radio Sweden
United States: Alaska Governor touts U.S.-China deal as helping LNG project, but analysts are doubtful, Alaska Dispatch News
