Against a backdrop of a (temporary) drop in drilling activity across the Norwegian Continental Shelf and a simultaneous increase in activity in the UK, the latter finds itself in the lead when looking at exploration wells currently being drilled: three in the UK (Dunnottar, Jade South and Jaws) and two in the Norwegian sector (Fat Canyon and Toppand).
This has not happened for a while, and may indeed be of very temporary nature, but it is an interesting thing to see regardless. Especially in the UK, where during most of 2021 no exploration took place at all, it is slightly surprising to see this sudden uptake in activity in the winter season.
At the same time, it should be realised that the NCS saw a total of 29 spuds so far this year, whilst the UK now stands at six when the Bacchus (development) well is being included. These numbers obviously give a more representative picture of activity levels throughout the year.
Learn more about the wells currently being drilled and those completed in 2021 during our free webinar next Thursday – 16th December at 9:00 am GMT and 10:00 CET. Please register through this link.
Fat Canyon
In Norway, the Fat Canyon well (6306/3-1S) operated by PGNiG is still drilling. With a spud late September, it can be concluded that the well takes a fairly long time to complete given that the Upper Jurassic target is not particularly deep and that a secondary target probably doesn’t exist. It is too early to jump on conclusions, but the fact that this prospect has been earmarked as having standalone potential means that there is certainly some anticipation.
Apache UK
Looking at Apache UK, it is interesting to see that the company drilled a number of exploration wells in the Eocene injectite play in the greater Beryl area last year, but has discontinued that trend in 2021. The company has even not drilled a single “official” exploration well at all this year. However, as we reported on before, the Bacchus development well (22/06c-B4) could be seen as an exploration well (especially through the eyes of the Norwegians), as it drilled a new compartment south of the field.
With Bacchus South being dry, the company then embarked on drilling another compartment of Bacchus, which seemed to have taken a longer than anticipated. Besides activity on Bacchus, Apache has also been drilling another development well on the Storr discovery this year, including three side-tracks. Storr was taken into production in 2019 and was thought to be a single well development, so it looks as if the operator had to change plans to arrest the decline.
Not far away from Bacchus, Shell has now embarked on a near-Nelson exploration campaign with the Upper Jurassic Jaws prospect currently being drilled through (22/12d-13). As I learned at Petex the other day, the company aims to spud another well in the Nelson area early next year, targeting the Orlov prospect following completion of the well targeting the Edinburgh prospect further north.
All in all, there are some exciting wells on the go at the moment, mostly with a near-field character, but even one with a standalone potential.
HENK KOMBRINK
