Offshore staff

DUBLIN, Ireland --A sidetrack well appraising the Old Head of Kinsale discovery in the Celtic Sea off southern Ireland has tested dry gas at rates exceeding 18MMcf/d.

Absolute open flow potential via a 56/64-in (2.2 cm), choke was 47MMcf/d of gas. Gas came from the same Lower Cretaceous Upper Wealden reservoir horizons that yielded the 49/23-1 discovery in 2006.

Operator Island Oil & Gas used the semisubmersiblePetrolia to drill well 49/23-2z. After drilling to a measured depth of 5,140 ft (1,567 m), the well was suspended as a potential gas producer.

Island and its partners are working on the next phase of evaluation and potential development. The rig will next drill the Schull gas field prospect in nearby exploration license 5/05, again for Island.

07/02/2007