Husky completes White Rose delineation

Nov. 21, 2006
Husky Energy Inc., Calgary, has completed the White Rose 2006 delineation program, resulting in an increase of the assessment of White Rose oil field's recoverable resources by 190 million bbl of oil. The field is located in the Jeanne d'Arc basin 350 km east of St John's, Newf.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 21 -- Husky Energy Inc., Calgary, has completed the White Rose 2006 delineation program, resulting in an increase of the assessment of White Rose oil field's recoverable resources by 190 million bbl of oil. The field is located in the Jeanne d'Arc basin 350 km east of St John's, Newf.

"The results of this delineation program, along with the strong performance of the current development, should allow White Rose to significantly extend its production plateau," said Chief Executive and Pres. John C.S. Lau.

Contributing to the increase in the assessment of the field's resources is Husky's hydrocarbon discovery at the North Amethyst K-15 delineation well in the southwestern section of White Rose. This discovery could contain recoverable resources of 40-100 million bbl of oil, with a likely estimate of 70 million bbl. The K-15 well, drilled to 2,566 m on White Rose Significant Discovery License 1044, revealed a 50-55-m oil column with high reservoir quality in the Aptian-age Ben Nevis Avalon formation. The company is continuing to assess core and fluid samples and wireline log data.

Earlier this year Husky announced results of the O-28 delineation well, which was drilled in the western section of the field. Further review of the well data and geological modeling has resulted in Husky's upgrading its estimate of recoverable resources in this area to 50-200 million bbl of oil, with a current likely estimate of 120 million bbl. A further delineation well is planned in 2007 to confirm the resource estimates and to assist in future development planning.

The total estimate of about 190 million bbl of recoverable resource from the K-15 and O-28 wells is incremental to the White Rose proven and probable reserves. The two wells are located near the SeaRose floating production, storage, and offloading vessel (FPSO).

Husky is conducting front-end engineering on the White Rose field's southern extension, which the company expects to develop as a subsea tieback to the SeaRose FPSO. Production from this pool is scheduled for late 2009, pending regulatory approvals. The southern extension reserves are included in the current estimate of White Rose proven and probable reserves. It is anticipated that the K-15 discovery also will be developed through the southern extension development.

The SeaRose FPSO is producing 110,000 b/d of oil from five production wells. A sixth production well is being completed and is expected to come on stream later this month, increasing reservoir production capacity to 125,000 b/d of oil.

Field operator Husky Energy holds a 72.5% interest in the project. Petro-Canada holds the remaining 27.5%.