NSTA grants extension to North Sea Elke license
Britain’s North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) has approved an extension of Phase B of the P2482 license in the central UK North Sea, operator Orcadian Energy reported on June 18.
The concession, which contains the Elke and Narwhal discoveries, now runs through July 14, 2027.
Elke contains estimated net 2C resources of 45 MMbbl and Narwhal has 9 MMbbl. Orcadian has identified a further 53 MMbbl of prospective resources with a geological chance of success in the range of 64% to 87%.
These findings are said to be supported by relative Extended Elastic Impedance analysis conducted by TGS.
The latter had undertaken to acquire 100 sq km of new 3D seismic over P2482 pending approval of the Pilot Field development plan. The new shoot will take place during Phase B of the license and will cover Narwhal, currently mapped solely on 2D seismic.
In addition, the license extension will allow Orcadian (operator of Elke) and Ping Petroleum (operator of Pilot) to pursue an optimum area-wide development plan with the NSTA.
Ping is working with polymer supplier SNF and Heriot-Watt University to optimize a planned polymer flood to boost production from Pilot. Orcadian has an 18.75% “carried-to-first-oil” interest in the development.
The company also revealed it is working with The Independent Power Corp. (IPC) and The Marine Low Carbon Power Co. to transfer ownership of license P2680 (Earlham and Orwell) and potentially P2650 (shallow gas prospects) into a corporate joint venture structure.
This could support a plan to deliver decarbonized energy from new, offshore balancing power plants to IPC’s customers.