Uchenna Izundu
International Editor
LONDON, Feb. 27 -- Nexen Petroleum UK Ltd. plans to start oil production in 2010 from Bugle field in the UK North Sea following an appraisal test of 7,400 b/d of oil and 9.06 MMcfd of gas from two intervals.
Nexen and its joint venture partners wanted to assess a possible oil-water contact in the Dirk and Upper Galley sands by reentering the original exploration well, 15/23d-13, and drilling a sidetrack on the flank of the Bugle structure. Oil-bearing Dirk sandstone and Upper Galley sandstone held oil columns of at least 282 ft and 280 ft, respectively. These columns have increased Bugle's size significantly. Oil was 44° gravity with samples and reservoir pressures being recorded from both intervals.
This year the partners will drill a production well with appraisal sidetracks on the Bugle discovery on Block 15/23d to identify the oil-water contact point and determine the areal extent of the reservoir. One development option is a tie-back to Nexen-operated Scott platform.
The 15/23d-13z sidetrack well reached a TD of 15,898 ft on Jan. 28. The original 15/23d-13 discovery well, drilled in 1997, encountered 85 ft of oil-bearing Jurassic Dirk sandstone and 123 ft of oil-bearing Jurassic Galley sandstone.
The Ocean Guardian semisubmersible drilling rig, which is under long-term contract to Oilexco, will move to Block 23/21 to drill the Moth exploration prospect, just south of Lomond gas field, said Oilexco North Sea Ltd., a partner in the well.
Nexen Petroleum, with a 41% stake, has partnered with Oilexco 41% and Eni UK 18%.
Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].
