Rig: Brage

GDF Suez announces discovery with 22/16-6 well

GDF SUEZ E&P UK Ltd and its co-venturers today announced a new discovery in the UK Central North Sea. The 22/16-6 well on the Dalziel structure flowed at rates in excess of 8,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The well is now being side-tracked to appraise the extent of this discovery. Block 22/16 is part of GDF SUEZ operated Licence P.1799. Ruud Zoon, Managing Director of GDF SUEZ E&P UK Ltd said: “This is another encouraging discovery by GDF SUEZ following on from a successful exploration campaign in 2014. It demonstrates a continuing commitment by GDF SUEZ to an active exploration, appraisal and development drilling programme on the UK Continental Shelf.” The well was drilled by GDF SUEZ E&P UK Ltd as operator, with the Transocean Galaxy II jack-up rig. Co-venturers are GDF SUEZ E&P UK Ltd (30%), RWE DEA UK SNS Ltd (25%), JX Nippon Exploration and Production (U.K.) Limited (25%) and Total E&P UK Limited (20%).

GDF Suez and BP discover oil in North Sea

GDF SUEZ E&P UK Ltd and BP today announced a new exploration discovery in the UK Central North Sea. The discovery, which spans GDF SUEZ operated block 30/1f (licence P1588) and BP operated block 30/1c (licence P363) was flow tested at a maximum rate of 5,350 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The discovery, referred to as ‘Marconi’ by GDF SUEZ and ‘Vorlich’ by BP, is located in the Central North Sea. Ruud Zoon, Managing Director of GDF SUEZ E&P UK Ltd said: “This is an encouraging exploration discovery in a part of the Central North Sea that needs additional volumes of hydrocarbons to open up development options for several stranded discoveries. The discovery is our third successful well this year and demonstrates a continuing commitment by GDF SUEZ to an active exploration and appraisal drilling programme on the UK Continental Shelf.” Trevor Garlick, Regional President of BP North Sea said: “As BP marks its 50th year in the North Sea and as the industry looks to maximise economic recovery from the basin, increasing exploration activity and finding new ways to collaborate will be critical to realising remaining potential. This discovery is a great example of both.” The well was drilled by GDF SUEZ E&P UK Ltd as operator, with the Transocean Galaxy II jackup rig under a joint well agreement between the two licence groups. Business and Energy Minister Matthew Hancock said: “We are determined to have set the right fiscal and regulatory regimes to make sure we can get the maximum possible economic extraction of oil and gas from the North Sea.” “This discovery shows exactly what can be achieved in the North Sea if companies work together to maximise the considerable potential of remaining oil and gas reserves.”

Rigmar awarded multi million pound contract with Transocean

Following a competitive tender, oil giant Transocean, has awarded Rigmar with a multi million pound shipyard services contract to complete works on the Galaxy II. Under this contract, Rigmar – an international single source provider of support services – will draw on the experience of its engineering and design, access, blasting and painting, construction, fabrication, resource management and inspection divisions. The project is expected to last approximately 68 days and will take place at Rigmar’s fabrication facility in Dundee. Robert Dalziel, Managing Director of Rigmar, said this contract is the largest of its size secured by the rig repair division: ‘To secure a contract of this magnitude with a respected company such as Transocean, demonstrates our growing reputation within the industry for delivering the highest standard of service. ‘Over the past 24 months, Rigmar has invested significantly in our offering to ensure we are well placed to meet the needs of this rapidly growing market and further demonstrate our commitment to develop our business in Tayside. ‘Through the acquisition of Riverside Engineering – recently rebranded Rigmar Fabrication – we have strengthened our position within the subsea, onshore IRM, offshore IRM and renewable industry.

LUNDIN PETROLEUM COMPLETES EXPLORATION WELL 12/17b-1, OFFSHORE UNITED KINGDOM

Lundin Petroleum AB (Lundin Petroleum) announces that the well 12/17b-1 on the Ridgewood prospect reached Total Depth at 1,731 meters (5,678 ft). The well is located in block 12/17b, production licence P1301, in the Moray Firth area of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS). The well was drilled using the Transocean Galaxy II jack-up rig and evaluated one reservoir target. This target is being plugged and abandoned as a dry hole. Lundin Petroleum is the operator with 30 percent interest. Partners are Palace Exploration Company (United Kingdom) Limited (25%), Britcana Energy Ltd. (25%) (a subsidiary of International Frontier Resources Corp.), Gulf Shores UK Resources Ltd. (10%) and Monoil UK Limited (10%).

LUNDIN PETROLEUM HAS SPUDDED EXPLORATION WELL 12/17B-1, OFFSHORE UNITED KINGDOM

Lundin Petroleum AB (Lundin Petroleum) is pleased to announce that drilling of the exploration well 12/17b-1 on the Ridgewood prospect located in block 12/17b, production licence P1301, in the Moray Firth area of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS), has commenced. Well 12/17b-1 is targeting Jurassic sandstones. The Ridgewood prospect is a four-way dip closure. The unrisked gross potential resource is 41 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe). Lundin Petroleum has contracted the Global Santa Fe Galaxy II jack-up rig to drill this prospect. Drilling is expected to take 28 days. Well 12/17b-1 is the third well of a three well back-to-back exploration drilling programme on the UKCS using the same rig. Lundin Petroleum is the operator with 30 percent interest. Partners are Palace Exploration Company (E&P) Limited (25%), Britcana Energy Ltd. (25%) (a subsidiary of International Frontier Resources Corp.), Gulf Shores UK Resources Ltd. (10%) and Monoil UK Limited (10%).

LUNDIN PETROLEUM HAS SPUDDED EXPLORATION WELL 21/8-3, OFFSHORE UNITED KINGDOM

Lundin Petroleum AB (Lundin Petroleum) is pleased to announce that drilling of the exploration well 21/8-3 on the Scolty and Banchory prospects located in Block 21/8, production licence P1107, on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS), has commenced. Well 21/8-3 is targeting Palaeocene and Jurassic sandstones. The Scolty prospect is defined by a 3D seismic anomaly and the Banchory prospect is a stratigraphic pinchout. The unrisked gross potential is 51 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe). Lundin Petroleum has contracted the Global Santa Fe Galaxy II jack-up rig to drill this prospect. Drilling is expected to take 45 days. The 21/8-3 is the second well of a three well back-to-back exploration drilling programme on the UKCS using the same rig. Lundin Petroleum is the operator with 40 percent interest. Partners are Challenger Minerals (North Sea) Limited and Palace Exploration Company (E&P) Limited.

LUNDIN PETROLEUM COMPLETES EXPLORATION WELL 41/10A-2Z

Lundin Petroleum AB (Lundin Petroleum) announces that the well 41/10a-2Z on the Lytham prospect reached Total Depth at 2,063 meters (6,768 ft). The well is located in the Southern North Sea sector of the United Kingdom continental shelf (UKCS). The well was drilled using the GSF Galaxy II jack-up rig, evaluated three reservoir targets and is being plugged and abandoned as a dry hole. Lundin Petroleum is the operator with 25 percent interest. Partners are Challenger Minerals (North Sea) Limited and Palace Exploration Company (E&P) Limited with Gulf Shores UK Petroleum Ltd, Eternal Energy Limited, Britcana Energy Ltd and Monarch Energy Limited participating in the well in an earn-in capacity. On completion of the abandonment the rig will be mobilised to the 21/8-C location – Scolty and Banchory prospects, the second well in a three well back-to-back UKCS exploration drilling programme.

LUNDIN PETROLEUM HAS SPUDDED EXPLORATION WELL 41/10A-2, OFFSHORE UNITED KINGDOM

Lundin Petroleum AB (Lundin Petroleum) is pleased to announce that drilling of the exploration well 41/10a-2 on the Lytham prospect located in block 41/10a, production licence P1129, in the southern North Sea sector of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS), has commenced. The 41/10a-2 is targeting Carboniferous Namurian sandstone and the Haupt and Platten dolomite reservoirs of Permian age. The structure is defined by 3D seismic and is a large 4 way dip closure. The unrisked gross potential is 400 billion cubic feet (bcf) (65 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe)). Lundin Petroleum has contracted the Global Santa Fe Galaxy II jack-up rig to drill this prospect. Drilling is expected to take one month. The Lytham prospect is the first well of a three well back-to-back exploration drilling programme on the UKCS using the same rig. Lundin Petroleum is the operator with 25 percent interest. Partners are Challenger Minerals (North Sea) Limited and Palace Exploration Company (E&P) Limited with Gulf Shores UK Petroleum Ltd, Eternal Energy Limited, Britcana Energy Ltd and Monarch Energy Limited participating in the well in an earn-in capacity.