Conoco Inc. said Tuesday that two appraisals have confirmed discoveries in the UK central North Sea that could yield estimated gross reserves of more than 100 MMboe once developed.
Conoco is evaluating the fields, one oil and the other gas, and plans to develop them and begin production in late 2003 or early 2004.
The Kappa oil discovery, which also has a small gas cap, is in block 15/29b and extends into block 21/4a-North. It is 125 miles northeast of Aberdeen, 16 miles from the Britannia production platform, and 13 miles from the Chevron Corp.-operated Alba oil field. Conoco holds 23% equity interest in Alba.
Kappa was discovered late in 1999 and confirmed last month by the 15/29b-13 well, which encountered 135 ft of hydrocarbons. A 25-ft interval of reservoir was perforated and flowed 1,400 b/d of oil through a 24/64-in. choke.
Conoco said each Kappa production well could produce up to 20,000 b/d.
The gas discovery, made in 1985 in block 21/3a, is 26 miles from Britannia and 23 miles from Alba. It was confirmed by the 21/3a-7, which encountered a 120-ft gas column. A drill stem test of an 87-ft interval flowed at a rate of 20 MMcfd through a 44/64-in. choke. Once developed, the field will peak at 100 to 200 MMcfd of gas.
Conoco said the development will add to its holdings around the Britannia gas condensate field, the largest in the UK, in which the company has a 51% interest.
Conoco owns 80% of 15/29b and 86% of 21/4a-North. It holds 75% of block 21/3a and is operator in both cases. Chevron UK Ltd. is a partner in both licenses.