By the OGJ Online Staff
LONDON, Jan. 17 -- Two appraisal wells have raised reserves estimates for the Buzzard oil discovery in the UK North Sea to more than 400 million bbl from 200-300 million bbl.
PanCanadian Energy (UK) Ltd. is operator of Buzzard with a 45.01% interest, Intrepid Energy North Sea Ltd. has 30%, BG Group PLC 19.99%, and Edinburgh Oil and Gas Ltd. 5%.
The field is in license P986 100 km northeast of Aberdeen. The 20/6-4 appraisal was 2.1 km north of the discovery well, drilled last summer, and encountered a similar pay section. When a testing program is completed, the well will be sidetracked to obtain further data on the reservoir. Earlier, the Buzzard 19/10-1 appraisal and sidetrack well was drilled 2.9 km west of the discovery.
The discovery well was drilled in 320 ft of water. During testing, it flowed at the rate of 6,547 b/d of light oil and 97 Mcfd of gas on a 36/64-in. choke. Flow rates were constrained by the limits of the testing equipment.
PanCanadian has been working on a £1 billion development plan for the field using two large, 10,000-tonne platforms. They would be built in Scottish yards, which need contracts following a downturn in North Sea activity.
BG Executive Vice-Pres. John Wormley said, "This new data is extremely encouraging and provides a further indication that Buzzard represents one of the largest discoveries in the UK North Sea for some 10 years. The intensive appraisal program continues with an anticipated three further wells and, where appropriate, associated sidetracks during 2002."
