Offshore staff
LONDON -- EnCore Oil has had further success with its latest well in the Catcher discovery area of the UK central North Sea.
TheGalaxy II drilled the Catcher North appraisal well 28/9-3 in block 28/9 to a TD of 5,265 ft (1,605 m) having encountered hydrocarbons in Tay and Cromarty Sandstone intervals. Pressure data suggests it is connected to the Catcher and Catcher East accumulation.
The well intersected 20 ft (6 m) of net gas-bearing pay in the Eocene Tay interval, and 14 ft (4.3 m) of net oil-bearing pay in the Paleocene Cromarty section, extending the gross total hydrocarbon column in the Catcher area to 410 ft (125 m) - this comprises a gas column of 75 ft (22.8 m) and an oil column of 335 ft (102 m).
EnCore says the Tay and Cromarty reservoir sections were cored and high porosity sandstones recovered from both reservoirs. The estimated gas/oil contact at 4,350 ft (1,326 m) TVD is consistent with data from the Catcher and Catcher East wells, while the estimated oil/water contact within the Cromarty section appears consistent with the Catcher discovery well and the Catcher South West side track.
Following plugging and abandonment operations, theGalaxy II will mobilize to drill the Burgman prospect 7 km (4.3 mi) to the southwest for the partnership, as soon as a weather window arises. Thereafter, the partners aim to drill the Carnaby structure.
Premier Oil, which has a 35% interest in the license, commented that oil pay encountered in this latest well was lower than expected. It now puts total oil reserves for the Catcher, Catcher North, and Catcher East discoveries in the range 40-80 MMbbl.
Alan Booth, EnCore's CEO, agreed that the latest results were disappointing. However, he added, “this well has helped delineate the extent and hydrocarbon type of the Tay and Cromarty over the Catcher North field area. We now look forward to drilling the Burgman well which along with the Varadero results will help define the likely scale of the upcoming 28/9 development program.”
Steve Jenkins, CEO of partner Nautical Petroleum, said: “The well results have confirmed that Catcher, Catcher East, and Catcher North are a single substantial accumulation. Although the Cromarty sands were thinner than expected, we now have an improved understanding of the reservoir distribution and the trapping mechanism. This will help us optimize the future development of Greater Catcher.”
03/08/2011
