THE CEO of one of the partners in Tudor Rose is confident that the Sedco 704 semi-submersible drilling rig will drill the 1983 North Sea heavy oil discovery this month.
Bill Transier, of Endeavour International, told Energy that the well would not take long to drill but that it would clear up the uncertainty regarding the nature of block 14/30a Tudor Rose oil.
He agreed that there was a vagueness around the original discovery well.
“Basically they tried to sample the well but it was contaminated and they pulled up mud,” said Mr Transier.
He acknowledged that the density of the oil might lie in the range 10-20API and the hope that it be at least 16API.
The Sedco 704 is currently working for Ithaca on the Athena development.
Mr Transier indicated that the rig may drill Tudor Rose and then go back to Athena.
“Tudor Rose won’t take that long. The idea is to drill a vertical hole, take samples, test the viscosity and then make some determination about how you might develop whatever you have,” he said.
“Depending on the characteristics of what we have, then we will make a decision from there.
“We own 20% of this. By other people’s definitions there are 500million barrels in place, which probably means that, if it works out, reserves will probably be greater than that as that is the history of the North Sea.”
Block 14/30a is located in the Outer Moray Firth adjacent to Ivanhow, Rob Roy, Goldeneye and Tweedsmuir fields.
According to operator Encore, the discovery well encountered a 24m (80ft) heavy oil column.