Partners agree on North Sea Kraken drilling locations

Aug. 19, 2014
Operator EnQuest expects first oil from the Kraken development in the UK northern North Sea in 2016/2017, according to partner Cairn Energy.

Offshore staff

EDINBURGH, UK – Operator EnQuest expects first oil from the Kraken development in the UK northern North Sea in 2016/2017, according to partner Cairn Energy.

The partners have agreed on locations for the initial development wells from the first two drill centers (DC1 and DC2), and the first two drilling templates are expected to be installed later this year.

Offshore Norway, Cairn is also a partner in the Wintershall-operatedSkarfjell license, where various development concepts are under review for oil and gas that could additionally take in other undeveloped fields in the surrounding area.

Cairn is aiming to pre-qualify as an operator offshore Norway and will apply for additional acreage in the Barents Sea in the country’s 23rd license round, highlighting its Arctic operational experience from itsdrilling campaigns offshore western Greenland.

The company is a partner in Statoil’s currentEnsis exploration well in the Barents Sea.

Offshore Malta, Cairn has an exploration study agreement over Area 3 – blocks 1, 2, and 3 – in partnership with Rockhopper subsidiary Melita Exploration Co. They are reviewing 1,715 km (1,065 mi) of newly acquired broadband 2D seismic.

Off western Morocco, Cairn works with operator Kosmos Energy and ONHYM in theCap Boujdour permit in the Aaiun basin, where water depths range from 1,000-3,000 m (3,281-9,842 ft).

The partners are acquiring 5,150 sq km (1,988 sq mi) of 3D seismic, which they plan to analyze over the coming months. Kosmos has identified various plays and prospects based on the existing 3D data. The largest, Gargaa, could hold up to 1 Bboe. Drilling is expected to start during 4Q.

08/19/2014