Private equity backed Azinor Catalyst has awarded a rig contract to Diamond Offshore Drilling for use of the Ocean Guardian semisubmersible rig to drill two wells in Q3 2017.
The first exploration well will target the Partridge prospect, which will be immediately followed by an appraisal well to test the Agar discovery and Plantain prospect.
Catalyst acquired a 100% operated interest in blocks 14/11a, 14/12a and 14/16a, which contain the Partridge prospect, in December 2015. Drilling of the Partridge exploration well is expected to take about 25 days.
The Partridge prospect’s pre-drill recoverable volumes have been estimated at 119 MMboe in the mid case, with an upside case of 260 MMboe. The prospect has a relatively shallow and normally pressured reservoir and is within the Jura Sub-Basin of the Outer Moray Firth, adjacent to the Scapa, Claymore and Athena oil fields.
Catalyst holds a 50% interest in blocks 9/9d and 9/14a, which contain the Agar discovery and Plantain prospect. Catalyst made the Agar discovery in 2014 with the 9/14a-15A exploration well which encountered 33ft column (oil-down-to) in high quality Eocene Frigg Formation sands. Agar and Plantain have estimated combined mid case resources of 60 MMboe, with an upside case of 98 MMboe.
Located in the South Viking Graben, Agar and Plantain are c.12 km east of Apache’s Beryl field and about 14 km west of Aker BP’s Alvheim hub. Drilling of the Agar appraisal well is expected to take approximately 35 days and includes a sidetrack to test the Plantain Prospect.
Henry Morris, Technical Director of Azinor Catalyst, commented: “Both prospects and plays have huge potential which will be unlocked by these wells.
The Agar/Plantain Eocene age reservoir is proven to be working directly over the median line in Norway for Aker BP at Volund. Agar and Plantain share the same seismic characteristics as Volund and look bigger. We tagged the up dip end of Agar in 2014, proving the trap works and that the supporting seismic anomaly is hydrocarbon bearing.”