Shell makes 'significant' gas discovery in the Norwegian Sea

London (Platts)--23May2005

Shell said Monday it has made a 'significant' gas discovery in the Onyx South
West prospect in the Norwegian Sea offshore mid-Norway. A well in Block 6406/9
of Production License (PL) 255 flowed from two zones at a maximum rate of
about 1.4-mil cu m/ day in tests. The well was drilled to a total depth of
5,052 meters below sea level, in 308 meters of water, using the semi-
submersible mobile drilling rig Transocean Leader. 

Shell said a logging, sampling and testing program has now been completed but
no reserve estimates were given. "Information from core, fluid sample and
production test data indicates the presence of a substantial gas column, which
is very encouraging and there are indications that we are dealing with a
significant find," Shell's European exploration director Rien Herber said in a
statement. Shell said it plans to follow up the discovery with an accelerated
appraisal and exploration program in 2006. Shell operates PL255 license with a
30% interest. Its partners are Statoil (20%) and Total (20%) and the state's
Petoro (30%).

This story was originally published in Platts European Power Alert
http://www.europeanpoweralert.platts.com

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