Well update - Wisting Alternative, Norway

The well was not appraising the major discovery at Wisting Central and encountered oil shows in the deeper targeted Kobbe and Snadd formations but the reservoir rock was of poor quality where penetrated.

Wisting Alternative was drilled five kilometres north west of the Wisting Central light oil discovery, announced on 6 September 2013, in a deeper independent structure. Following the completion of drilling operations, extensive data acquisition and sampling has been carried out and the well will now be plugged and abandoned. Work will continue on evaluating the Wisting Central discovery and understanding the regional geology.

The well was drilled by the Leiv Eiriksson semi submersible rig and is located approximately 315 kilometres north of Hammerfest. The well was drilled to a total depth of approximately 2,452 metres in a water depth of 413 metres.

The Wisting Alternative well is located in licence PL537 in which Tullow has a 20% interest. OMV (Norge) are the operator with a 25% interest while Idemitsu (20%), Statoil (15%) and Petoro (20%) are also partners.

ANGUS MCCOSS, EXPLORATION DIRECTOR, TULLOW OIL PLC COMMENTED TODAY:

“Wisting Alternative was a high risk wildcat well which has provided important information about the regional geology in the Barents Sea. The material Wisting Central oil field, discovered in the same license in September this year, will now be prioritised for appraisal in 2014 alongside our significant program of high impact wells that includes the operated Mantra well which is due to spud in November.”