Petroleum Exploration and Production in Europe in 1977

Abstract

North Sea oil production rose to 1,242,000 b/d in December 1977, although production from several large fields was curtailed. Onshore oil production in western and southern Europe declined slightly in Austria, France, and Germany, and increased modestly in the Netherlands, Britain, and Yugoslavia. Overall gas production increased slightly, but there were declines in Italy and the Netherlands. The giant Frigg and Ekofisk North Sea gas fields went on production through pipelines to shore terminals. A Jurassic discovery in the central North Sea, Fulmar, was confirmed as an important field. Oil was tested in 3 wells in the West Shetland basin, and at least 1 of these may be a commercial discovery. Drilling extended into previously undrilled basins west and east of Ireland, in luding 2 wells at water depths below 1,500 ft (470 m). An important deeper pool discovery was reported in the Wytch Farm field onshore in southern England. Two offshore oil discoveries, both in water 2,200 ft (680 m) deep, were made off the east coast of Spain. In Italy, an interesting stratigraphic trap gas discovery was made in the Po basin, and an oil find was made offshore west of Sicily. Small gas and oil discoveries were made onshore in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, and Yugoslavia. In the Soviet Union, average daily production of crude oil and condensate was 10,920,000 bbl and of gas 33.8 Bcf. The Samotler field in the West Siberian basin accounted for 2,600,000 b/d of the total oil, and efforts were intensified to find new reserves to offset the eventual decline of that field. Major gas pipelines were under construction to open the large gas fields of the Arctic part of the West Siberian basin.