New Gas and Condensates Discovery in the North Sea
Total, Operator, and its partners have made an encouraging discovery with the Isabella 30/12d-11 well on the license P1820, located in the Central North Sea offshore U.K., about 40 kilometers south of the Elgin-Franklin Field and 170 kilometers east of Aberdeen.
The well was drilled in a water depth of about 80 meters and encountered 64 meters net pay of lean gas and condensate and high-quality light oil, in Upper Jurassic and Triassic sandstone reservoirs. The analysis of the data and results are ongoing to assess the discovered resources and to determine the appraisal program required to confirm commerciality.
“The initial results at Isabella are encouraging. This demonstrates that our exploration strategy in the North Sea to explore for value adding prospects nearby to our infrastructure is working,” commented Kevin McLachlan, Senior Vice President Exploration at Total.
The results of the well will be analysed to further evaluate the discovery, determine future appraisal activity and recoverable resources estimates. The well is now being plugged and abandoned.
“The discovery of hydrocarbons in three separate formations is positive news for Neptune and our partners. While analysis of the results is ongoing, the initial findings show significant promise,” Jim House, CEO of Neptune Energy, said.
“Having acquired our interest in the exciting HPHT Isabella prospect in 2018, the result further strengthens our growing UK portfolio and demonstrates the significant remaining hydrocarbon potential in the region,” he added.
The 30/12d-11 well in UK licence P.1820, was drilled by the Noble Sam Hartley jack-up to a total depth of 5,557 meters in water depths of 80 meters.
The Neptune Energy operated licence containing the Isabella prospect is located in the Central North Sea area of the UK Continental Shelf, close to a number of large producing field.
Ithaca acquired its interests in Isabella through the acquisition of the UK-listed company Valiant Petroleum plc in April 2013.
Isabella is a gas condensate prospect, defined as a four-way dip closed structure, with the up-dip part stratigraphically trapped against the Jane diaper.
The licence was awarded in the 26th Offshore Licensing Round, and a well is scheduled to be drilled on Isabella in late 2019/2020. Ithaca reduced its original 50% working interest in the licence to 10% following execution of farm-out agreements with Total and Edison SpA. The farm-outs mean that Ithaca is carried for its forecast share of the Isabella exploration commitment well cost and will also receive additional cash beyond the carry.
Partners in Licence P.1820: Neptune E&P UK Limited (50%), Total E&P North Sea UK Limited (operator and 30%), Ithaca Energy (UK) Limited (10%), Euroil Exploration Limited (10%).
Total in the United Kingdom
Total is present across the energy value chain in the UK. It has been present in the country for over 50 years and employs over 2,000 people.
Upstream, Total is one of the country’s leading oil and gas operators, with equity production of 189,000 boe/d in 2019. It principally comes from operated offshore fields in three major zones: the Alwyn/Dunbar area in the Northern North Sea, the Elgin/Franklin and Culzean area in the Central North Sea, and the Laggan-Tormore area in the West of Shetland.
Downstream, Total is one of the UK’s largest suppliers of gas and electricity to businesses and the public sector. The Group is also present in refining through the Lindsey Oil Refinery in Lincolnshire, with a capacity of 110,000 barrels per day, and in the marketing of petroleum products including lubricants, aviation fuel, bitumen and specialty fluids.
About Total
Total is a major energy player that produces and markets fuels, natural gas and low-carbon electricity. Its 100,000 employees are committed to better energy that is safer, more affordable, cleaner and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in more than 130 countries, Total’s ambition is to become the responsible energy major.
