As of January 28, some 12 E&A wells were active on the UKCS, representing an increase of two on last month.
Of these 12, four are exploration, the remaining eight appraisal; one West of Shetland, one in the Northern North Sea, two in the Southern North Sea and the lion’s share (eight) in the Central North Sea.
To date this year, three wells have spudded, while two side-tracks have also been started from wells that were initiated last year.
For the first time in a while, there is more E&A activity in the UK than in Norway, though it has to be said that our North Sea neighbour is ahead by one on the number of new spuds so far this year.
There are currently some 37 active rigs in the UK sector of which 12 are on E&A duties and the remaining 25 on D&P (development & production) operations.
In addition, four rigs are in port, though two are waiting to resume contracts, while the GSF Arctic III is idle but available and the Ocean Vanguard is stacked.
West of Shetland
BP doggedly continues with its Clair field appraisal programme, namely well 206/12a-5 which is in the hands of the semi-submersible Paul B Loyd Junior. At the time of writing, the rig was waiting for weather conditions to improve before starting a test programme.
Northern North Sea
In the NNS, EnQuest recently side-tracked its Kraken West (Tyrone) appraisal, well 9/2b-7Z, the pilot hole of which was started by the Ocean Princess. The reservoir target lies in Palaeocene geology.
Central North Sea
The CNS continues to dominate exploration on the UKCS, with eight wells noted as being active. It is also the only sector of the UK’s aquatory where any new wells have been started this year.
Total-operated well 29/3b-9, originally mooted to spud in 2014, was spud on January 4 by the newly built and commissioned jack-up Prospector 5. It is currently drilling ahead, the target being a HP/HT (high pressure/high temperature) Triassic objective.
To the south, ConocoPhillips also spudded a new well (January 5) using the Maersk Resilient. 30/6a-9 is an appraisal well on the Janice field. Running concurrent is well 30/7a-S08. This is also a Jasmine appraisal and is being drilled using the jack-up Ensco 102.
Apache has now started on exploration well 21/10-F4 on its U.Jurassic Les Arcs prospect using the Rowan Gorilla VII.
Les Arcs and neighbouring Val D’Isere prospects lie about 300km east of Aberdeen. They cover 175sq km in around 100m water depth. One well is currently planned on each.
Elsewhere in the CNS, Total has side-tracked its Franklin appraisal with well 29/5b-F10X, while side-track well 22/20c-K1Z continues ahead on the neighbouring Elgin field.
Maersk has wrapped-up operations on its Palaeocene Courageous appraisal, well 30/2a-11, with the Sedco 704 moving off location in early January.
Meanwhile, the company continues drilling Drumtochty well 15/25c-15A, a re-spud of the initial hole late in 2014. Completion is expected in the not too distant future.
GDF Suez is also continuing operations in pilot hole well 22/16-6 on its U.Jurassic Dalziel prospect, and is currently operating at total depth with the Galaxy II.
Southern North Sea
Two SNS wells remain active, both appraisal and both started last year. RWE Dea is drilling Crosgan well 42/15a-3 with the Ensco 70, while Centrica has the Noble Julie Robertson on Grove Deep, where well 49/10a-9 continues ahead and is targeting the Carboniferous.
East Irish Sea
This sector remains devoid of E&A drilling activity and has been for almost a year.
Summary
We’re one month into the year and three wells have spudded, representing an increase of two compared to the same time last year.
Furthermore, this increase is despite numerous delays to recent and current drilling programmes as a result of inclement weather conditions.
Once the weather settles a bit, it will be possible to finish a number of active wells, thereby allowing new programmes to start.
Last month, we remarked on how poor 2014 had been, especially in terms of exploration drilling. While activity has got off to a better start this year, only time will tell if this can be maintained.
Norway – North Sea spins despite wintry weather
Six wells are currently active off Norway; four exploration and two being appraisal. All are in the North Sea with the exception of one in the Norwegian Sea.
There are 14 active development/production wells utilising mobiles; 12 in the North Sea and one each in the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea.
A total of 39 rigs are busy . . . six on E&A duties and 14 on D&P drilling. Seven D&P wells were also being drilled from fixed platforms at the end of January.
Of the remaining 19 mobiles, five are stacked in port though the drillship West Navigator is scheduled to begin a new contract in the Russian sector imminently.
North Sea
Of the four wells currently active, long-running well 2/4-22 S (Maersk Gallant) on the HP/HT Romeo prospect and well 30/11-10 A, a side-track on the Krafla North prospect (Transocean Leader), both continue from last year and both are for Statoil.
BG is pushing on with side-track 34/3-4 S on the Jordbaer Southeast prospect with the Transocean Searcher. Lundin has spudded well 26/10-1 on the Zulu prospect (Island Innovator). The rig had mobilising from Kopervik prospect dry well 25/10-12 S, also for Lundin, at the beginning of the year.
Also, Det norske kicked off its Ivar Aasen appraisal programme, spudding well 16/1-21 S with the newly built Maersk Interceptor.
Norwegian Sea
First spud of the year was Maersk’s well 6406/6-4 on the Tvillingen Sør prospect with the Leiv Eiriksson. 2014 hangover, duster well 6405/12-1 on the Lindarormen prospect was wrapped.
Barents Sea
There has been zero E&A activity since Statoil abandoned as dry, well 7227/10-1 on the Saturn prospect in mid-November.
It may be the case that tumbling oil prices will act as a deterrent for Arctic drilling throughout 2015. Two wells planned for this year on Lundin’s Alta discovery could prove pivotal in furthering development options in the region.
Summary
Although the number of wells are expected to be down on 2014, the Norwegian sector as a whole appears optimistic.
The Norwegian government recently announced the APA2014 awards, with three firm wells and 49 drill or drop wells pledged, with five of the latter reliant on new 3D seismic acquisition.
In addition, the government also announced the release of new acreage in the south-eastern Barents Sea; 57 blocks/part blocks have been made available in the 23rd Licensing Round, three of which are in the Norwegian Sea with the remaining 54 in the Barents.
This gives a clear indication of the massive potential of the Arctic.
This column by David Moseley and Matthias Sasso is courtesy of North Sea analysts Hannon Westwood
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