Uchenna Izundu
International Editor
LONDON, Aug. 15 -- Oilexco North Sea Ltd. said it is unsure when it will resume appraisal drilling on the Shelley oil discovery on Blocks 22/2b and 22/3a in the UK North Sea after a fire broke out on the Ocean Guardian semisubmersible rig Aug. 14.
"We hope it will be days rather than months," a company spokesman told OGJ. Production from Brenda-Nicol oil fields on Blocks 15/25b and 15/25a in the UK Central North Sea was not affected (OGJ Online, June 11, 2007).
Oilexco was testing the 22/2b-13 well cluster with a broad, low-relief, oil bearing structure about 7 sq km in size.
Oilexco has launched an investigation along with Diamond Offshore Drilling UK Ltd., which owns the rig, and local authorities to determine the cause of the fire, which broke out in the engine room. "The fire was completely extinguished by the vessel's fire suppression system a short time later. All personnel were accounted for and no injuries were reported," Oilexco said.
The well remained under control and is secure with no environmental damage reported from the fire. The Ocean Guardian is one of two drilling vessels under long-term contract to Oilexco.
In 2006, Shelley tested 3,082 b/d of 31° gravity oil through a 36/64-in. choke at 282 psi flowing pressure through the last well bore of the cluster. Oilexco had drilled 8 well penetrations from a single subsea well bore. No sand or water was produced during the test.
Oilexco also has identified a deep multizone gas-condensate prospect on Block 22/2b. This large structural feature is prospective for gas-condensate in Lower Cretaceous sands, as well as in Jurassic sand in high pressure, high temperature conditions. The deeper Jurassic prospect could be drilled at an unspecified time in the future.
Shelley is 35 km southeast of Brenda field.
Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].
