Endeavour lines up three UK wells

Offshore staff

HOUSTON -- Endeavour Energy will participate in two exploratory wells later this year on prospects in the central UK North Sea.

An imminent well on the decommissioned Maureen oil field will target an untested fault block. Later in the year, another well is planned on Deacon, which Endeavour describes as a high-potential, medium-risk prospect. The company will also co-fund an appraisal well slated for late 2010 on the Centurion discovery.

Earlier this summer, Endeavour sold its interests in the Norwegian sector to free funds for development projects in the UK North Sea, headed by work on its operated Rochelle field in block 15/27.

A recent appraisal well on Rochelle added significant reserves, testing gas and condensate from the upper 20 ft (6.1 m) of an 87-ft (26.5-m) hydrocarbon column at rates of 41 MMcf/d and 2,300 b/d. Endeavour aims to file a development plan by year-end, leading to a production start in late 2010.

At the GDF Suez-operated Cygnus field in the southern gas basin, a third appraisal well tested gas at 32 MMcf/d. According to Endeavour, a revised development program was submitted earlier this year to the UK government, calling for a phased development with first gas by mid-2011.

Cygnus is one of the UK’s largest unexploited gas accumulations, with potential reserves in the area of 1 tcf, including 500 bcf proven to date in the structure’s eastern half.

Finally, Serica Energy is pursuing commercial agreements for its Columbus development project in block 21/16f (Endeavour 24%), with probable start up by mid-2011. Reserves on the block are around 100 bcf.

08/04/2009