UK oil and gas firm Hurricane Energy has successfully completed the testing phase of its Lancaster field horizontal appraisal well.
The testing of the West of Shetland oil discovery – a naturally fractured basement reservoir – achieved a sustainable oil flow rate of 9,800 stock tank barrels of oil per day (stbpd).
The Lancaster field, fully owned by Hurricane, contains a best estimate of contingent resources of 207million barrels oil equivalent (boe).
The testwas aimed at establishing whether commercial hydrocarbon flow rates could be delivered from a 1km horizontal well drilled through faulted and fractured basement granite rock under both natural flow and artificial lift conditions.
“I am delighted to report the successful completion of our testing operations which have achieved hydrocarbon flow rates in the upper range of our pre-drill estimates,” said Dr Robert Trice, chief executive of Hurricane.
“The maximum sustainable flow rate of 9,800stbpd is particularly impressive as it was achieved despite being constrained by surface equipment.
“Whilst the artificial lift rates are important, the fact that the well also flowed oil at 5,300stbpd unaided (natural flow) is a clear demonstration that Hurricane’s plans for progressing to a Lancaster field development are technically viable.
“This successful outcome reinforces the potential importance of basement resources as a strategic resource for the UK.”
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