DANA Petroleum announced yesterday the successful appraisal of the Blackbird oil field in the UK central North Sea.
The well, operated by Nexen, encountered around 330 vertical feet of gross oil-bearing section.
Dana, which has a 12% stake in Blackbird, said preliminary log analysis indicated about 75 feet total thickness of good-quality oil-bearing reservoir sands.
The well is expected to be suspended for future use as an oil producer, through a potential tie-back to the Ettrick floating production vessel.
Dana chief executive Tom Cross said: “In the first half of 2010, Dana drilled 10 exploration wells – making five oil and gas discoveries.
“In the second half of 2010, Dana’s intensive drilling programme includes a further 10 exploration and appraisal wells, targeting additional oil and gas reserves in proven hydrocarbon basins.
“Blackbird is the first of these wells and the next three are already drilling in the UK, Netherlands and Egypt.
“In addition to this current drilling, Dana’s two largest 2010 targets at Anne Marie in the Faroes and Cormoran in Mauritania will spud in July and September respectively.”