By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 29 -- Dana Petroleum PLC said an exploration well on Block 23/16b indicated hydrocarbons in the central North Sea block next to Barbara gas-condensate field.
Dana and its partners discovered Barbara field in 2002 with exploration well 23/16c-8. The latest well, 23/16b-10, was stepped out 1.5 km to the east of the Barbara discovery and drilled to 9,400 ft subsea.
Logs are being evaluated, Dana said July 28. Preliminary analysis indicates that the well encountered a considerably thicker Paleocene Forties sandstone reservoir than the discovery well.
Dana is drilling the 23/16b-10 well under a farmout from Shell UK Ltd. and Esso Exploration & Production UK Ltd. In return for its drilling, Dana will receive operatorship and 50% interest in the Barbara extension area within Block 23/16b.
Barbara field is within tieback distance of both the Everest and ETAP production and export infrastructure systems (OGJ Online, July 27, 2004).
