This week saw a disappointing well result in Rowallan and a mediocre result in Verbier.
Rowallan
The keenly watched wildcat drilled at the Rowallan prospect "was not found to be hydrocarbon-bearing”. The 22/19c-7 well was targeting 143mmbbl in a structural fault and dip-closed trap analogous to Total’s Culzean field 20km away.
The well encountered a 182m section of sandstone and shale after being drilled to a depth of 4,641m .
The Dundonald and Sundrum prospects, which are geologically similar to Rowallan, have previously been identified as potential drilling targets in the block but will now be “re-evaluated in the light of the drilling results”, Serica said.
Serica, with a 15% interest in the block, did not incur any costs for the well as it was fully carried following an earlier farm-out. Eni operates the block with a 32% stake, with remaining partners JX Nippon (25%), Mitsui (20%) and Equinor (8%).
Verbier
Equinor (70%), Jersey Oil & Gas (18%) and CIECO (12%) completed appraisal well 20/05b-14 on the Verbier discovery last week. The well did not encounter Upper Jurassic sands as anticipated, and the contingent resources have been revised towards the lower end of initial resource estimates to 25mmboe.
Further upside potential exists in the area at deeper horizons and an additional prospect at Cortina. This will continue to be matured. At 25mmboe, Verbier is viewed to be commercial and development planning will now commence as part of a wider area development plan, which could include the Buchan Area.
