Cairn Energy PLC has agreed to join Azinor Catalyst Ltd. to help drill an appraisal well on the Agar Plantain in the UK North Sea, subject to regulatory and joint venture party consents, Azinor Catalyst said. Azinor Catalyst hired the Transocean Leader semisubmersible to drill the well.
Plans call for Cairn to join Azinor Catalyst for 50% of the drilling activity on Agar Plantain and 25% of the wider P1762 license with existing partner Apache Corp.
The appraisal well, expected to spud in the third quarter, seeks to delineate the downdip element of the Agar discovery reservoir with a sidetrack aimed at testing the Plantain prospect.
Azinor Catalyst retains operatorship for the appraisal well with Cairn acquiring an option to take over operatorship. The 50% interest involves two blocks, 9/9d and 9/14a, containing the Agar discovery and the Plantain prospect. Agar was discovered in Eocene Frigg formation sands during 2014.
Agar and Plantain have estimated combined resources of up to 98 million boe, Azinor Catalyst said.