Oilexco resumes UK drilling

Oilexco has resumed drilling of the second phase of its Brenda appraisal program in block 15/25 in the Outer Moray Firth area of the UK North Sea after a two-month suspension. The Transocean semisubmersibleJohn Shaw has begun drilling 15/25e-11, Oilexco's appraisal well at the Brenda oil find.

The first four appraisal wells and two sidetracks at Brenda appraised an undeveloped discovery made in 1990 at 15/25b-3. The bottom-hole location of 15/25e-11 is 1.5 km northwest of 15/25b-10, Oilexco's last Brenda appraisal, which tested 3,351 b/d of 40° oil from the Paleocene Forties sand during production testing operations in July.

The 15/25b-11 wellbore is the first of three of a "well cluster" to be drilled from a central location. It will be followed by 15/25e-11Z to be located 1.25 km west of the 15/25e-11 bottom-hole location, and by 15/25e-11Y, located 1 km northwest of the 15/25e-11 bottom-hole location.

The first two wells – 15/25e-11 and 15/25e-11Z – will be drilled as slim holes, but will allow for evaluation. Operations on the 15/25e-11 well cluster are expected to span 45 days. Upon completion of these operations, appraisal operations will continue on an additional three-well cluster northwest of the 15/25e-11 group.

9/28/04