Statoil has proven more oil close to its Fram field in the Norwegian North Sea. The semisubmersible Songa Trym drilled well 35/11-17 on production license PL 090, 1 km (0.6 mi) south of Fram, in 357 m (1,171 ft) of water.

According to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD), it encountered a 48-m (157-ft) gross oil column in the Brent group, a 38-m (124-ft) gross oil column in the Fensfjord formation, and a 10-m (33-ft) oil column in Lower Jurassic rocks (Oseberg formation).
NPD estimates recoverable reserves in the 1-13 MMcmoe range.

The licensees plan to evaluate the discovery and other nearby prospects with a view to a potential development.After P&A’ing the well, Songa Trym will drill production well 35/11-A-31 in the same license.

In the Norwegian Sea, E.ON E&P Norge has NPD’s approval to use the semisub Borgland Dolphin to drill wildcat well 6507/5-7 in PL 558.

This part of the license takes in parts of block 6507/5. The well will be drilled around 10 km (6.2 mi) east of the producing Skarv field.

NPD has also authorized VNG Norge to use the semisub Transocean Arctic to drill appraisal well 6406/12-3 B and exploration well 6406/12-3 A in PL 586 in the Norwegian Sea.

The location is roughly 8 km (4.97 mi) east of the 6406/11-1 S discovery and 33 km (20.5 mi) southwest of the Njord field.