As of 25 November, Westwood Global Energy reports that there are three exploration wells active, with one in the CNS, one in the NNS and one in the SNS. One appraisal well is currently active in the CNS. Since the previous report, one well has completed at Rockhopper.
West of Shetland
No exploration and appraisal (E&A) wells have been drilled in the WoS area since the 206/21-1 Howick well in 2019 and there are no wells planned to be drilled in 2022.
Northern North Sea
The Shell-operated 211/14a-10 Rockhopper exploration well was suspended on 5 November, after re-entering on 1 September with the Ocean Endeavour semi-sub rig, as part of the Penguins field re-development well campaign. The well was targeting an undrilled tilted fault block with a Brent Group reservoir. It was completed as an oil well and is currently shut-in, expected to be tied-in as a production well in 2023.
The Serica-operated 3/24c-6 North Eigg HPHT exploration well was spudded with the Paul B Lloyd Jr semi-sub on 11 July. The well was re-spudded on 19 July due to a stuck pipe in the original hole and re-spudded again on 9 August due to similar issues. The well is targeting Upper Jurassic intra-Kimmeridge Clay Formation turbidite sandstones and operations are ongoing.
The TotalEnergies-operated 3/9a-N43Z Alwyn East exploration well is expected to be spudded imminently. The well is targeting a Middle Jurassic Brent Group reservoir in a downthrown fault terrace to the east of the Alwyn field.
Central North Sea
The Noble Sam Hartley jack-up spudded the 30/12d-12 Isabella appraisal well on 1 September. TotalEnergies made the gas condensate discovery in 2019 – 2020 with the 30/12d-11 well. The appraisal well will be drilled in an updip location, targeting the Triassic Judy Member sandstone, and plans to confirm key petrophysical properties to enable development.
The Shell-operated 22/8a Orlov HPHT exploration well was spudded on 14 August with the Valaris 122 jack-up rig, targeting Upper Jurassic Fulmar sandstones in a structural trap in interpod play setting. It is rumoured that the well has made a discovery and that a DST is being carried out.
Southern North Sea
The Shell-operated 42/5a-2 Pensacola well was spudded on 21 November with the Noble Resilient jack-up rig. Pensacola is a frontier, and therefore high impact well, targeting Permian Zechstein Group Z2 reef build-ups in a complex combination trap. The well is expected to take 60 – 90 days to complete.
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