Conoco (U.K.) Ltd. has gauged a markedly improved gas flow from a horizontal appraisal well drilled on a structure in U.K. North Sea Block 49/22.
Among other North Sea action, BP Exploration expects to start production near the end of April from Miller oil and gas field in U.K. Block 16/7b.
HORIZONTAL WELL
Conoco's 49/22-10 well flowed 33.4 MMcfd and 50 b/d of condensate through a 1 in. choke. That's four to five times greater than gas volumes gauged from two vertical holes drilled earlier on the block.
The latest well, drilled to 11,707 ft measured depth, has a 2,500 ft horizontal section in the Rotliegendes Leman sandstone.
Conoco has four undeveloped gas discoveries in Block 49/22, which also holds part of the company's Victor producing gas field. The company is studying development options for the four discoveries - Ganymede, Callisto, Thebe, and Europa - which hold combined reserves of about 600 bcf. Designated the Jupiter area, the fields are named for that planet's moons.
The latest appraisal was on the Europa structure, a 1972 discovery.
Largest of the strikes, Ganymede, also was found in 1972 and extends into Blocks 49/16 and 49/17(S). More recent discoveries were at Callisto in 1989 and Thebe in 1991.
Conoco is interpreting data, including a 3-D seismic survey, acquired in the fields last year. A Callisto appraisal well will be drilled next.
Conoco owns a 20% interest in Block 49,'22. Its partners are BP Exploration 25%, Mobil North Sea Ltd. affiliate Superior Oil (U.K.) Ltd. 50%, and Statoil (U.K.) Ltd. 5%.
MILLER FIELD
BP is working on tieback of seven predrilled wells to its Miller platform. Certifying authority Lloyds Register has given approval for the start of drilling from the platform.
The 1.3 billion development ($2.26 billion) project, about 160 miles northeast of Aberdeen, is expected to reach a peak flow of 113,000 b/d.
Oil will move through a spur line into BP's Forties pipeline system.
Gas has been sold for power generation at Peterhead on the east coast of Scotland. A dedicated gas pipeline will start up about 1 month after oil flow begins.
Miller holds estimated reserves of about 240 million bbl of oil and 460 bcf of gas.
OTHER ACTIVITY
Meanwhile, in the Norwegian North Sea, Den norske stats oljeselskap AS will charter the Treasure Prospect semisubmersible rig from Wilrig AS of Norway to drill development wells in Loke, East Sleipner, and Statfjord satellite fields during 3-4 years.
The rig Originally was destined to drill for Petrobras off Brazil. Petrobras agreed to substitution of the Treasure Stawinner rig for its contract, which involves drilling production wells in 3,116-3,444 ft of water in Marlim field.
Treasure Stawinner will move to Brazil after completing a contract for Enserch in the Gulf of Mexico.
In addition, Norsk Hydro AS signed a letter of intent with Aker Engineering AS, Oslo, for detailed engineering and procurement for a deck and modules for the concrete floating production platform chosen to produce 340 million bbl of oil reserves from Troll gas field in Blocks 31/2 and 31/5. Detailed engineering is to be complete near the end of 1993.
The contract is subject to Norwegian government approval for the field development plan.
Off Ireland, Santa Fe Minerals (Ireland) Ltd. took a farmout on Block 48/19, where Bula Oil Ltd. plans to drill a wildcat this year. Target for the 48/19-2 well is a structure on the edge of the block, 2 miles from Marathon Ireland's producing Ballycotton gas field.
The new interests in Block 48/19 are Bula 35%, Santa Fe 30%, Oliver Petroleum 28%, and Gaelic Oil plc 7%.
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