ExxonMobil Exploration & Production Norway AS (ExxonMobil), operator of production license 028 S, has concluded the drilling of wildcat well 25/10-10.

Det norske oljeselskap ASA (Det norske) carried out the drilling operations on behalf of ExxonMobil. The well is located immediately west of the Balder field.

The primary exploration target for the well was to prove petroleum in sandstones of Early Triassic age. The well encountered good quality reservoir rocks in the objective reservoir interval but they were water bearing.

The well was drilled to a total depth of  2473m below the sea surface and terminated in the Zechstein Formation of Permian Age. The water depth at the site is 123 meters. The well will now be permanently plugged and abandoned.

The well was drilled by the Aker Barents, which now will proceed to PL 460. There, it will complete well 25/1-11 on the Storklakken prospect operated by Det norske oljeselskap ASA.

Licensees in production license 028 S:

ExxonMobil (operator)            60 percent
Det norske oljeselskap            40 percent


About Det norske:

Det norske oljeselskap ASA has interests in a total of 77 licenses, with 40 operatorships.

Det norske is the second-largest operating company on the Norwegian Continental Shelf both considering number of operatotships and exploration activity. I 2009 the company operated nine exploration wells, and the high activity will continue in 2010. Det norske runs its activities in a safe and responsible manner in close cooperation with the authorities.

Det norske currently employs a staff of 180. The company`s registered office is located in Trondheim. The company also has offices in Oslo,Harstad, and Stavanger. Det norske is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (DETNOR).