SWAP – Strategic Well Acquisition Project

Background:
In August 2019, an exploration well (32 / 4-2) was drilled in license PL921. This license is the neighboring license to Trollfeltet and Northern Lights’ CO₂ storage license Aurora. The SWAP project wanted to do a data collection in this well in PL921. This data collection will come as a supplement to the planned data collection of PL921. These additional data are expected to provide information on the area’s further potential for large-scale storage of CO₂. The area can, if possible, be a back-up to Aurora or an upscaling solution for the Northern Lights project. PL921 has been studied and described in several studies (CO₂ Storage Atlas (OD, 2011), CO₂ storage in Troll Kystnær (Gassnova), the Feasibility Study for CO₂ storage on the Norwegian shelf (Equinor, 2016), and evaluated as a possible Norwegian storage solution for the H21 North of England project in 2018. The 2018 study described the potential for storage in the order of 15-20 million tonnes of CO₂ per year, but emphasizes the need to collect new data.

Project description summary:
The SWAP project deals with the collection of well data in 32 / 4-2. These data will later be used to assess future large-scale CO₂ storage. It is proposed to collect a core sample of the Draupne formation, as well as perform an extended stress test to confirm the strength of this roof rock. It is then proposed to extend the total depth of the well to 2000 m MD in order to collect data from the Lunde Formation. In addition to the activities described above, an extended data collection program has been proposed from all formations during the Draupne formation. A separate project will be created for analysis of the data collected, where one will have the ambition to apply for support from CLIMIT, and Equinor wants to include more partners in this upcoming project. It will be natural that the further analysis of data is coordinated with ongoing work in the Northern Lights project and with external research activities such as. OASIS and NCCS. Equinor wants the necessary data to be collected that can contribute to further maturation of Smeaheia and the Horda platform for future large-scale injection of CO₂.

Project potential:
By collecting extra data in 32 / 4-2, you can reduce the uncertainty of a future CO₂ storage and you can have the opportunity for large savings by avoiding a future dedicated verification well for CO₂ storage. The savings can be several hundred million kroner (cf. Aurora). The data from 32 / 4-2 will also be able to make a contribution and reduce uncertainty in relation to the Aurora warehouse for the Northern Lights project, which may be important in relation to an investment decision in the Norwegian full-scale project.

Project goals:
1) Verify the sealing quality of the primary roof rock in the area (Draupne slate)
2) Confirm large-scale storage potential in Jurassic sandstones with a large regional distribution
3) Test a deeper reservoir theory in the Lunde Formation of the Triassic age.