After five weeks of drilling and two side tracks, operator Neptune Energy has not succeeded in proving commercial gas in the F05-06 well in the northern Dutch sector.
The well tested a clear seismic anomaly that was even drilled by an exploration well (F05-02) before, be it that the target was a deeper one at the time.
EBN presented a resource potential estimate for the so-called F04/F05-P1 shallow gas prospect. Based on seismic interpretation and well log analysis, the P50 estimate for the prospect was though to be 2.7 BCM, which equates to almost 17 MMboe. As a comparison, the A12 shallow gas field which is currently being operated by Petrogas had an initial ultimate recoverable of 6 BCM or 38 MMboe.
However, with NLOG now reporting that after drilling two failed attempts the second side track turned out to be dry, it is once more proven that a seismic anomaly does not mean the presence of commercial gas. Is it very low gas saturations or a lithological response? We will no doubt hear more about this in the future. For now, confidence in the shallow gas play surely must have had a little dent.
HENK KOMBRINK
