Carna well encounters gas

March 5, 2009
Venture Production has discovered gas with a well on the Carna prospect in the UK North Sea, according to partner Ithaca Energy.

Offshore staff

ABERDEEN, UK --Venture Production has discovered gas with a well on the Carna prospect in the UK North Sea, according to partner Ithaca Energy.

The 42/21b-5z well was spudded by the jackupEnsco 92 in late December, and mechanically sidetracked on January 23 at 2,918 ft (889 m) TVD. It is currently being cased for further evaluation and drill stem testing.

Electric logs indicate the well intersected a gas-bearing Namurian Millstone grit formation (Carboniferous) at 10,029 ft (3,057 m) TVD, and there are signs of formation gas from mud logs down to 11,440 ft (3,487 m) TVD. Net pay from preliminary log interpretation is estimated at 127 ft (39 m).

Porosities in the four distinct gas-bearing sections of the reservoir range from 7-14%, with core analysis suggesting permeability ranges from 10mD to 0.1mD. There appear to be similarities with gas from the producing Kilmar field 10 km (6.2 mi) to the northwest.

Due to the rig's extended stay on Carna, Ithaca has had to contract another jackup, Northern Offshore'sEnergy Enhancer, to complete development work on its Jacky field in the Moray Firth.

Here the platform and pipelines have been installed, and modifications to the reception facilities on the Beatrice complex, 10 km to the southwest, are nearing completion. Ithaca expects Jacky to come on stream at the end of March at around 7,500 b/d.

3/5/2009