Ten E&A wells are active on the UKCS. Four semi-submersibles, five jack-ups and one drill ship are active on four exploration and six appraisal wells. The year to date has seen 30 well starts including 19 spuds and 11 sidetracks. The spud count includes nine exploration wells and 10 appraisals. Six exploration and five appraisal sidetracks have additionally been initiated. No change is noted in the number of re-entries and re-spuds; two and one, both exploration wells respectively.
There are 19 active D&P (development and production) wells; an increase of five on last month’s update. The number of field spuds has jumped nine wells to a total of 28; and seven more side-tracked legs were initiated also bringing the latter to 28. Total D&P starts this year thus stands at 56 wells. The number of mobile rigs on D&P drilling has risen by two units to nine. Utilisation of platform derricks has also increased from four to seven.
Northern North Sea
Total’s well 3/15a-16Y on the Middle Jurassic Laphroaig prospect is currently being abandoned; the rig Sedco 714 possibly shifting to further abandonment duties in the area.
Central North Sea
Four wells are active. Nexen spudded Ivy (East) appraisal well 21/3f-8 (Transocean Prospect) on June 16; GDF Suez well 22/23c-8 (Galaxy II) on the U.Jurassic Taggart/Rotliegendes Rebus prospect was sidetracked at the start of June; Talisman’s well 22/24e-12 (Sedco 711) appraising Triassic Seagull North continues; and ConocoPhillips’ well 23/22b-6 on the Triassic Lacewing prospect was also sidetracked on June 9 (Maersk Resilient). BG’s well 30/2a-10 (Rowan Gorilla VI) on the U.Jurassic Thunderer prospect was abandoned after 167 days. The two months-plus stay at total depth suggests a positive outcome though nothing is being disclosed yet.
West of Shetland
The drillship Stena Carron spudded Chevron-operated Cambo appraisal, well 204/5a-1, on the last day of May, targeting the Palaeocene accumulation in 1,090m of water. Operations also continue on BP’s well 206/13a-3, Clair area appraisal (Paul B. Loyd Jnr).
Southern North Sea
In the Southern North Sea, E.On’s first Tolmount appraisal, well 42/28d-13 (Maersk Resolve} continues. RWE’s Carboniferous Severn prospect, well 43/18a-2, is currently in its second sidetrack; leg #2Y being kicked-off by Ensco 92 on June 6. A third rig, Energy Enhancer, which is drilling well 42/25d-3 for National Grid. Although designated an appraisal, this “carbon capture” well is effectively the first offshore drilling to take place under the terms of a new CS (carbon dioxide appraisal and storage) licence, in this case Licence CS001. The well will penetrate to a depth of about 1,600m.
Irish Sea
E&A activity in the East Irish Sea Basin is currently at a standstill, marked by the abandonment of EOG’s well 110/12a-9 and two appraisal sidetracks in the Corfe and Conwy South accumulations ahead of what is expected to be an imminent development drilling programme. It is understood the pre-development programme was designed to optimally place the bottom-hole locations of the production wells.
NORWAY
A mid-year dose of discoveries despite some dusters
At the time of writing eight wells are active on the NCS; six exploratory and two considered appraisal. There are two wells apiece in the Barents Sea and North Sea, the remaining four being located in the Norwegian Sea. In toto, 26 E&A spuds are noted this year, plus a sidetrack well. Neither a re-entry nor a re-spud is recorded to date.
There are 20 active development/production wells of which 18 are in the North Sea. The Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea have one apiece, targeting the Skuld and Goliat fields respectively. Of the current pool of 38 mobile units, two-up on last month, 28 are operating on fields, with this including non-drilling operations, whilst eight are tied-up on E&A activity and a further two are in port.
North Sea
This sector accounts for most development drilling. Two E&A wells are currently active, with Talisman’s Frode exploration probe drilling ahead (Maersk Giant), whilst the Bredford Dolphin is appraising Johan Sverdrup for operator Lundin with well 16/3-6.
Four completions are noted during the month. Lundin’s Carlsberg well 7/4-3 was abandoned as a dry hole early month; so too was Johan Sverdrup appraisal 16/2-21 (P&A Oil). The one sidetrack recorded in the sector this year targeted the Cliffhanger South prospect. It was kicked off from the pilot hole of successful Johan Sverdrup appraisal well 16/2-17 S, but failed to find hydrocarbons.
Norwegian Sea
There are four active wells in the Norwegian Sea; all are exploratory and utilising Transocean rigs. Wintershall’s well 6406/6-3 (Transocean Arctic) on the Mjøsa prospect is reportedly a sub-commercial gas discovery. At Shell’s Onyx South probe, well 6406/9-3, continues operations, this having spudded mid-April. Statoil is currently spinning the bit at Smorbukk North with well 6506/9-3 (Transocean Leader), operations having started mid-month; whilst Transocean’s Winner is nearly a month into exploration well 6608/2-1 S on the Sverdrup prospect. Meanwhile, Statoil’s appraisal 6608/11-8 on the Falk discovery was abandoned dry after 21 days.
Barents Sea
There is no change since May, with one appraisal and one exploration well currently active. Total’s Norvarg appraisal (Leiv Eriksson is currently being drill-stem tested, with oil having been encountered in the Kobbe formation. Statoil is drilling ahead in its M.Jurassic Nunatak exploration probe with the rig West Hercules.
As we reach the year’s halfway point; a fresh spate of additions to Norway’s offshore trophy cabinet are noted. They include a successful appraisal of Norvarg in the Barents Sea, along with a discovery near the Grane field, plus the recently announced Mjøsa discovery, though this may be sub-commercial.
Additionally, well 34/8-15 S near the Visund field was suspended in February, but only just revealed as a gas discovery; whilst the successful appraisal of Johan Sverdrup continues. That said, a number of dry holes have reduced the success rate although, given the relatively healthy rate of drilling, more 2013 discoveries can be expected.
Simon Robertshaw’s and David Moseley’s column is courtesy of North Sea analysts Hannon Westwood.
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