Uchenna Izundu
International Editor
LONDON, June 6 -- Oilexco North Sea Ltd. and its partners will carry out a drillstem test on the Upper Jurassic Fulmar sand in the Huntington prospect in the UK Central North Sea to confirm the extent and commerciality of the reservoir.
The consortium has found oil in multiple zones and drillstem testing will move through 101 ft of perforations with results due within 7-10 days. Oilexco raised its estimate of the oil column's size in the Upper Jurassic Fulmar to 130 ft from 58 ft and increased its estimate of the structure's size to 23 sq km from 7 sq km because the oil column is bigger. Better seismic interpretation following wire line evaluation is also another reason for increasing estimates.
The discovery well, 22/14b-5, reached TD of 13,325 ft. Wire line evaluation of the Upper Jurassic Fulmar sand at 12,750 ft indicated the entire 130 ft of Fulmar sand is oil-bearing, the company said. Wireline pressure and sampling across this interval have recovered 40º gravity oil, it said.
Other appraisal tests of Huntington's oil accumulations will happen in the fourth quarter using one of Oilexco's two long-term contracted semisubmersible rigs. The appraisal will confirm the size of the structures currently estimated to be 14 sq km for the Paleocene Forties sand, the company said.
The partners will also drillstem test the Paleocene Forties interval after they have finished the Upper Jurassic one, which will help Oilexco to evaluate before drilling two analogous Paleocene structures identified on Oilexco's 72.7% owned Block 22/13b immediately west of the Block 22/14b.
Oilexco's partners in Huntingdon are Altinex Oil (UK) Ltd. 20%, E.On Ruhrgas UK E&P Ltd. 25%, and Carrizo Oil & Gas Inc. 15%. Oilexco holds a 40% stake in Huntingdon.
Analysts at Merrill Lynch described Huntington as "potentially one of the largest oil discoveries in the North Sea of the last 5 years."
Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].
