Irish license dropped after disappointing results

Offshore Ireland focused Lansdowne Oil & Gas has relinquished license SEL 4/07 following disappointing results from the Midleton prospect well.

Lansdowne had 20% interest in the license, alongside Petronas subsidiary PSE Seven Heads, with 80%. Well 49/11-3 well on the Midleton prospect in 2015 found gas in the Greensand, the main reservoir target, but the volume is considered too small to be commercial.

The Midleton prospect, about 20km northeast of the Kinsale Head field, had previously been estimated to contain 330 Bcf gas initially in place, according to Landsdowne. 

Following a post-well evaluation of the other prospective structures on the acreage, Petronas has concluded that, based on the current data available, none of these were attractive enough in terms of risk and reward to offer drillable targets.

"A final report has been submitted to the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and the Licence has been relinquished with effect from 31 December 2016, the end of the First Phase," says Lansdowne. 

Lansdowne CEO Steve Boldy said: "Midleton was considered the prime prospect on SEL 4/07 and following the disappointing results of the 49/11-3 well, it is not surprising that the conclusion has been reached to relinquish the acreage. This further portfolio rationalization will allow Lansdowne to focus all its resources upon the [non-operated] Barryroe field where we have substantial 2C resources "

The Midleton well reached target depth in the well, in the Celtic Sea, at 3393ft true vertical depth below sea level. The well was drilled using Diamond Offshore Drilling's Ocean Guardian semisubmersible.

SEL 4/07 covers part-blocks 49/11, 49/12, 49/17 and 49/18, immediately southeast of the Kinsale Head gas field, in the Celtic Sea offshore southeast Ireland.

Kinsale Energy has been producing natural gas from its facilities off the Old Head of Kinsale since 1978. The company was acquired by Petronas in April 2009. Kinsale Energy also operates Kinsale Head, Ballycotton and Seven Heads gas fields in the Celtic Sea and a natural gas storage field (Southwest Kinsale).