U.K. OFFERS OFFSHORE FRONTIER ACREAGE
The U.K. Department of Trade and Industry has listed frontier blocks on offer in the third stage of its 14th offshore licensing round.
Forty-nine blocks are available in Quadrants 72, 73, and 74 in the southwest corner of U.K. territorial waters, where little exploration has occurred to date.
"Licensees will have an extended period in which to plan and carry out their exploration activity," said Tim Eggar, minister for energy.
"Similarly, companies are invited to apply for tranches of blocks.
"The work programs will be expected to include seismic exploration in the first phase of the license, with any drilling normally taking place in the second phase."
This frontier round follows two earlier announcements involving a total of more than 400 blocks in or near mature areas (OGJ, Aug. 17, Newsletter).
The deadline for applications for frontier acreage is noon Mar. 9, 1993.
DRILLING HISTORY
County NatWest WoodMac, Edinburgh, said exploratory drilling took place on previously licensed acreage in each of the frontier quadrants.
Eighteen of the blocks were previously allocated in the 6th and 7th rounds, while Block 72/10 was awarded out of round.
"One dry hole has been drilled on Quadrant 72 and one on Quadrant 74," said the analyst.
"Of greater interest is Quadrant 73 where 10 wells were drilled in the period 1981-86. All were dry holes."
Copyright 1992 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.