Central New York Herkimer search to proceed

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Oct. 21 -- Two companies formed a joint venture partnership to explore for gas in Silurian Herkimer sandstone in central New York.

Norse Energy Corp., Oslo, said Stryker Energy, LLC, Mayfield Village, Ohio, will be a 50% partner in its 2010 Herkimer drilling program.

“Stryker Energy has reviewed our new 3D seismic data which provides full subsurface illumination of Herkimer prospects. Stryker Energy provides further validation of the Herkimer play in central New York State from an established long-term Appalachian basin oil and gas operator,” Norse Energy said.

Norse Energy has received funding from Stryker Energy for the first three wells. The companies, which have explored and developed other central New York properties in previous joint ventures, have mutual options to continue the Herkimer partnership into 2011.

Norse Energy had total contingent resources of about 4 tcf of gas at the end of 2009. It holds 180,000 net acres in New York, owns a gas marketing business, and operates gas gathering and transmission pipeline in New York and Pennsylvania.