Neptune Energy, an independent global E&P company, announced the commencement of drilling on the Ofelia appraisal well in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.

Ofelia, in license PL 929, is 14 km north of the Neptune-operated Gjøa platform, with currently estimated recoverable reserves of 16 MMboe to 39 MMboe.

The new well aims to appraise and fully evaluate the hydrocarbon discovery in the Ofelia Agat formation. A secondary target is to evaluate an upside of gas charged reservoir in the shallower Kyrre Formation.

“The Ofelia discovery fits our strategy of focusing on opportunities within core areas near existing infrastructure,” said Neptune Energy’s Director of Subsurface in Norway, Steinar Meland, noting that “The Ofelia discovery could be tied back to the Neptune-operated Gjøa platform and produce at less than half the average carbon intensity of Norwegian Continental Shelf fields 1.”

The main reservoir target is the Lower Cretaceous Agat Formation and is expected to be reached at a depth of approximately 2,530 meters.

The well, 35/6-4 S, is being drilled by the Deepsea Yantai, a semi-submersible rig, owned by CIMC and operated by Odfjell Drilling.

Neptune Energy operates the Ofelia appraisal well with a 40% interest. The other partners in the project include Wintershall Dea (20%), Pandion Energy (20%), Aker BP (10%), and DNO (10%).