Sweden's Lundin Petroleum reported Thursday that it has completed the exploration well 16/2-20S in the Norwegian North Sea, with results suggesting the Torvastad prospect is in contact with the Johan Sverdrup discovery.

Lundin said that the well found a lower Cretaceous/upper Jurassic sequence with poor reservoir properties of approximately 78 feet above a water-bearing upper Jurassic Draupne sandstone sequence of approximately 33 feet of "excellent quality". The Draupne sandstone came in deeper than expected but appears to be the same sequence encountered in all Johan Sverdrup wells, the firm said.

Now, Lundin plans to drill a side-track well near 16/2-20S, approximately 2,525 feet west of it. This well will investigate the potential of an up-flank continuous Draupne sandstone and establish an oil-water contact.

The 16/2-20S well, on production license 501, was drilled to a total depth of 6,792 feet by the Island Innovator (mid-water semisub) rig.

Lundin is the operator of PL501, with a 40-percent interest. Statoil and Maersk Oil Norway hold 40 percent and 20 percent respectively.