Wintershall has made an oil discovery on exploration licence F17a in the Dutch sector of the North Sea about 120km north of Den Helder in some 44m water depth.
Well F17-10 was drilled to a total depth of 1,490m, encountering a good quality Late Cretaceous chalk reservoir and oil was successfully recovered during a production test.
Measurements taken in the well indicate the presence of a significant oil column. According to Wintershall, preliminary estimates indicate a potential of at least 30million barrels recoverable oil with a “more than significant” upside.
Oil finds are rare in the Dutch sector and commercial viability of the discovery as well as further upside will need to be confirmed through appraisal drilling planned for this year.
