Agreement close for Catcher, Kraken North Sea development concepts

March 19, 2013
Cairn Energy expects to participate in two UK North Sea field development plan submissions.

Offshore staff

EDINBURGH, UK – Cairn Energy expects to participate in two UK North Sea field development plan submissions.

The first, which could go forward by mid-year, is for theKraken heavy oil field in the northern North Sea, operated by EnQuest (Cairn 25%). Further appraisal drilling is planned this spring to better define the field size.

West of Kraken, Cairn operates the 9/1a block where it estimates the “yet to find” potential in the 50-250 MMbbl range.

Later this year, Premier Oil and its partners (Cairn included) should submit a development plan for theGreater Catcher Area in the UK central North Sea. The current focus is on subsurface interpretation and front-end engineering of a development concept.

Last month, Wintershall spudded an appraisal well on last year’s Norwegian offshore oil discovery,Skarfjell (Cairn 20%). This is designed to test reservoir extent, thickness and quality downdip, and to establish fluid content below the known “oil down to” in the discovery well.

Cairn will also participate in exploratory wells on the Frode and Bonneville structures.

Offshore eastern Spain, the company is seeking authorization to acquire 3D seismic over its acreage in theValencia basin. The company also has submitted applications for further acreage in the Gulf of Lion off the Catalonian coast.

3/19/2013