Shell UK Ltd. has signed a drilling rig contract with Valaris to advance drilling of the Selene exploration well and the Pensacola appraisal well in the Southern North Sea (OGJ Online, Dec. 5, 2023).
The wells, in licenses P2437 and P2252, will be drilled using the Valaris 123, a heavy duty jack-up rig, with Selene and Pensacola being drilled back to back, with the contract and mobilization beginning in the June-July 2024 timeframe, said partner Deltic Energy Plc.
Confirmation of the rig contract is a significant step forward for Deltic and a key milestone in the preparatory work required to support the exploration well on the Selene gas prospect and the appraisal well on Pensacola, following last year’s discovery.
The Selene gas prospect is considered one of the largest unappraised structures in the Leman Sandstone fairway of Southern Gas basin. Selene JV partners estimate Selene to contain gross P50 prospective resources of 318 bcf of gas (with a P90 to P10 range of 132-581 bcf) with a 70% geological chance of success.
Pensacola JV partners estimate that the Zechstein carbonate reservoir contains gross P50 ultimately recoverable oil and gas resources of nearly 100 MMboe. A geophysical site survey has received permitting approval. Mobilization to the site has taken place and the survey is expected to last for about 1 month.
Shell UK Ltd. is operator at Selene (50%) and Pensacola (70%). Deltic holds the remaining equity in both prospects.