ExxonMobil Corp. subsidiary Mobil North Sea Ltd. (MNSL) has made a gas discovery in the southern North Sea, following the testing of an exploration well in block 53/2.
The exploration well is 5 mi southeast of the MNSL-operated Camelot field, 32 mi east of Bacton, England.
The well encountered gas in the Rotliegend reservoir and tested at 65 MMcf/d on an 80/64-in. choke. The company is analyzing data to evaluate this discovery.
MNSL is the operator of the well with 70% interest, with co-venturer EOG Resources holding 30%.
A second ExxonMobil unit, Esso Exploration and Production UK Ltd., has produced first gas from the Carrack natural gas field, a Shell Exploration & Production-operated project, also in the southern North Sea.
The Carrack field lies in a remote area 75 mi northeast of Bacton off the English coast, close to the UK/Dutch border. It holds 300 Bcf of natural gas, which will be exported from the field to the UK mainland.
Shell developed the project around a central hub platform over the Carrack field, from which four additional wells will be drilled within the next year, with the capacity for more wells if required. A second, smaller platform acts as a receiving facility for the Carrack gas production. These new platforms and the 50-mi Carrack pipeline will facilitate tiebacks of any future fields or exploration discoveries in the area.
Esso has a 48% equity interest in the project, with Shell Exploration & Production holding 52%.
12/18/03