Hurricane Lancaster shuts-in production

On 22^nd May 2020, Hurricane announced that it would be shutting in the 205/21a-7Z well at Lancaster. This follows an attempt to increase production at the well to test the viability of reaching 20,000bopd across both wells on the field.

However this attempt had led to unstable production at 205/21a-7Z caused by interference between the existing two wells. Production will now continue at 205/21a-6 only and current production is at 10,300bopd.

Hurricane will be discarding its production target of 18,000bopd for 2021 and has suspended putting out new guidance.

This is disappointing news for those who had placed bets on the risky fractured basement reservoir proposition of the company and now facing another setback.

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Warwick duster in the West of Shetlands

Hurricane Energy plc, the UK based oil and gas company focused on hydrocarbon resources in naturally fractured basement reservoirs, provides an update in relation to the 205/26b-13Z ("Warwick Deep") well.

Following completion of drill stem testing of the Warwick Deep well, the decision has been made to plug and abandon the well.

The Warwick Deep well was drilled to a total depth of 1,964m TVDSS and included a 712m horizontal section of fractured basement reservoir. Initial analysis indicates that the well intersected a poorly connected section of the fracture network within the oil column. The well did not flow at commercial rates producing a mixture of drilling brine, water, oil and gas.
The Company and its contractors are currently evaluating the drill stem test data and fluid samples with the objective of providing an update on this preliminary analysis at Hurricane's Capital Markets Day, scheduled for 11 July 2019.

The rig will now undertake work to permanently plug and abandon the Warwick Deep well and will then move to the 205/26b-B 'Lincoln Crestal' well, the second well of a three-well programme on the Greater Warwick Area. Hurricane has a 50% interest in the Greater Warwick Area following Spirit Energy's farm-in to the P1368 South and P2294 licences in September 2018.

Dr Robert Trice, Chief Executive of Hurricane, commented:

"It is disappointing that the Warwick Deep well did not flow at commercial rates. We were initially encouraged by hydrocarbon shows and gas ratio analysis indicative of light oil, however drill stem testing has clearly demonstrated that Warwick Deep cannot be considered suitable as a future production well and therefore the well will be plugged and abandoned.

"I look forward to commencing operations on the second well in the three-well programme, Lincoln Crestal. This is now the preferred candidate to be tied back to the Aoka Mizu FPSO, where Lancaster EPS production operations remain in-line with guidance."

See also: Spirit Energy farms in to Hurricane's Greater Warwick Area

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CNOOC to drill in the West of Shetlands

CNOOC has contracted the Island Innovator rig from Island Drilling Company for the drilling of the Howick prospect in Block 206/21 in the West of Shetlands. CNOOC is 100% operator of the block

CNOOC also has Cragganmore discovery in Block 208/17A which is planned to be further appraised, potentially in 2019. CNOOC is operator of Cragganmore with 70% interest; INEOS is a 30% partner.

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Hurricane's FPSO docked for changeover

Hurricane Energy has announced that the Aoka Mizu FPSO has been docked into Algeciras, Spain for planned personnel changes and bunkering.

The stopover will be extended to undertake a repair to an auxiliary system associated with power generation.

Commissioning activities will continue during its transit to the West of Shetlands as planned with first oil from the Lancaster field still on schedule for H1 2019.

The Aoka Mizu FPSO was designed and built and is owned by Bluewater Energy Services for operation as an FPSO in harsh environmental conditions. It was previously operated on the Ettrick and Blackbird fields in the North sea for Nexen Petroleum.

#Hurricane #Lancaster #AokaMizu #WOS

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Spirit Energy farms in to Hurricane's Greater Warwick Area

After many years of trying to find a farm-in partner, Hurricane Energy has finally succeeded in bringing in farminee for its Greater Lancaster/Warwick Area in the West of Shetlands.

Hurricane's tough journey had the company combating a falling oil price environment coupled with industry scepticism around its "fractured basement reservoir" plays. In 2017, it ploughed on alone with the sanction of an Early Production System ("EPS") at the Lancaster field without a partner.

With the improving oil price environment and refreshed North Sea corporate landscape, including the likes of Spirit Energy, Hurricane has finally found a partner for its assets. However Hurricane is not giving away its prize of the Lancaster field, instead Spirit Energy is buying into the yet undrilled and untested Warwick prospect and to be appraised Lincoln discovery.

Spirit Energy has farmed into 50% of Lincoln and 50% of Warwick licences, together the Greater Warwick Area (“GWA”) for a committed carry of USD387 million. This transaction is a major stamp of approval for Hurricane and a major step forward ahead of first oil from Lancaster. It also accelerates appraisal of the overall West of Shetland fractured basement play with significant appraisal drilling brought into 2019/20.

Greater Warwick Area is now envisaged to progress as its own separate development to the Greater Lancaster Area, although utilising the same Aoka Mizu FPSO export facilities and infrastructure.

The spending commitment by Spirit Energy will be spread over a number of phases:

• Phase 1: USD180.6 million carry to drill, log and test three exploration/appraisal wells (2019) including funding the purchase of long lead items and carrying out modifications of the Aoka Mizu
• Phase 2: USD187.5 million carry (Subject to FID following Phase 1) for 75% of costs for tie back of one of the GWA wells to the Aoka Mizu, FPSO modifications, and tying the vessel into the West of Shetland Pipeline (WOSP) system for gas export
• Phase 3 and 4: Hurricane will pay its share of the Phase 3 and 4 programme. Phase 3 includes three appraisal wells (2020) and is expected to provide the required well stock for the first phase of a full field development. Phase 4 comprises the front-end engineering and design necessary for the first phase of a full field development of GWA. Upon commencing this phase operatorship is to transfer to Spirit Energy
• Phase 5: The first phase of a full field development (expected 2021) Spirit Energy will carry between USD150 – 250 million of Hurricane’s costs through the development, dependent on the size of the 2P reserves at FID. Up to 300 mmboe would result in a contingent carry of USD150 million and for each barrel above this level, the contingent carry would increase by $0.50/mmboe, up to a maximum of USD250 million for a development of 500mmboe

#Hurricane #Warwick #Lancaster #Spirit #WOS

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