Norwegian oil major Statoil is preparing to spud the first of a three-well exploration campaign, including the high-impact Verbier prospect, on the UK Continental Shelf.
Early this month, the Transocean Spitsbergen semisubmersible drilling rig will spud the first well, Mariner Segment 9, which could prove additional resources and increase the extent of the Mariner heavy oil field. It is due to take 15-25 days.
The rig will then move to Jock Scott, a prospect on the underexplored margins of the Viking Graben, east of Shetland, with drilling there expected to take 20-40 days.
The last well of the campaign will be the Verbier prospect in the Moray Firth area. Verbier is expected to take 30-70 days to drill. Partner Jersey Oil & Gas has said Verbier could contain 162 MMboe mean prospective resources and that it could be one of the most exciting wells in the UK North Sea of recent years.
The entire campaign is expected to take about two to three months.
“This is an exciting campaign testing three very different opportunities on the UK Continental Shelf,” says Jenny Morris, vice president Exploration, UK.
Mariner Segment 9 partners are Statoil 65.1111%, JX Nippon 20%, Siccar Point Energy 8.889%, Dyas 6%
The Jock Scott well partners are Statoil 75% and BP 25%.
The Verbier partners are Statoil 70%, Jersey Oil and Gas 18% and CIECO Exploration and Production 12%.