Offshore staff
CALGARY, Canada -- Initial drilling and completion at Nicol field in block 15/25a of the UK North Sea is complete, says Oilexco Inc.
The single, horizontal production well 15/25a-N1w flowed 10,165 b/d oil through a choke at 505 psi flowing tubing pressure. Normalized to an 8% drawdown, the flow would be 12,000 b/d oil.
The oil was 40 deg API sweet crude with no sand or water during the test.
The well was capped with a subsea production christmas tree for later tie in to the Brenda manifold, expected in late August or early September. First Brenda/Nicol production is targeted for October.
"Our Brenda and Nicol fields combined have the potential capability of producing 56,000 b/d oil according to the flow test calculations," says Arthur Millholland, Oilexco president and CEO. "We are targeting daily production in 2007 to average 30,000 b/d oil from the Brenda/Nicol development, but the actual rate will ultimately be determined by the optimal conditions for maintaining reservoir integrity, which we won't know until we experience some production history."
After Nicol operations conclude, the TransoceanSedco 712 will move to Sheryl in block 21/23a for further appraisal drilling on the Eocene Tay Sand oil accumulation discovered in May 2006. A cluster of four appraisal well-bores is planned to be drilled on the south half of the structure.
After that, the rig will continue appraisal drilling at Shelly located in block 22/2b and Kildare in 15/26b.
8/7/06
