On 10 January 2018 Wintershall spudded a well on the Balderbra prospect in PL 894 using the âWest Phoenixâ S/S. 6604/5-1 targeted a robust structural closure with an amplitude anomaly between the Gullris (6604/2-1) and Gro (6603/12-1) wells. The objective was the Upper Cretaceous Springar Sandstone, expected to be reached at three levels (3,380 m, 3,515 m and 3,632 m). The main risks for the prospect were related to reservoir effectiveness: facies development and retention due to faulting. The well was drilled to TD at 3,858 m before a technical sidetrack was kicked-off. This wellbore has a TD of 3,760 m. It is understood that the rig left location on 19 March 2018 and results are expected imminently.  The Gullris well was drilled by BG in 2011 on the Gjallar Ridge to the north of Balderbra. Sandstone (21% porosity and 200 mD permeability) was encountered in the Springar Formation but it was water-wet.  Shellâs 2009 Gro well made a gas discovery, proving a 16 m gas column in the Springar Formation with recoverable reserve estimates in the region of 350-3,500 Bcf. The find was appraised in 2010 and a 50 m gas column was confirmed in the Springar Formation but reservoir quality was poorer than expected. Due to the variation in reservoir quality and gas saturation between this well and the discovery well, reserves were expected to be in the lower part of the range given after the discovery well was drilled. The Gro licence was relinquished in 2011.  Interest in PL 894 is held by Wintershall Norge AS (40% + operator), Statoil Petroleum AS (40%) and Petoro AS (20%).  Â 
Norway, PL 894