By the OGJ Online Staff
LONDON, Feb. 22�UK independent Enterprise Oil PLC said Thursday that it was "not closing any doors" in deciding how it might develop its North Sea Howe prospect. Appraisal drilling has indicated a reservoir holding up to 55 million bbl of oil.
Exploration manager Karen Leadbitter said preliminary estimates of the discovery's in place hydrocarbons suggested between 30-55 million bbl, but that well data analysis would help "frame the shape and size" of the find's recoverable reserves.
The Howe discovery is in 90 m of water in the Central Graben area of the North Sea, 12 km from Enterprise's Nelson field.
Leadbitter said, "We are not ruling out any development options. A tieback to Nelson is an option, (BP's) Forties (field) is close, so that is a possibility, a Cook-type scenario (Enterprise's nearby FPSO tieback) would also be also possible."
Enterprise-operated well 22/12a-8, drilled by Transocean Sedco Forex rig Sedco 711, encountered 161 ft of Upper Jurassic Fulmar reservoir section, the uppermost 83 ft being oil bearing.
The well will be suspended as a potential production or water injection well, said Enterprise.
Peter Kallos, Enterprise's UK general manager said the company was "committed to developing (its) UK business and discoveries such as Howe are a vital part of that aim." He said 20 million bbl Cook field showed the development potential of small satellite fields.
Enterprise owns 60% of Howe, with Intrepid Energy North Sea Ltd. and OMV UK Ltd. each holding 20%.
(corrected version)
