Verbier delivers after sidetrack
Statoil’s sidetracked Verbier well has discovered oil after the main wellbore found water filled sand. The company was targeting oil in an updip location on the structure together with joint venture partner Jersey Oil & Gas (JOG). Statoil believes that the 20/05b-13z well has proven a minimum recoverable resource of 25mmbbls, and that the upside could be as much as 130mmbbls. The JV has not at this stage provided details of the discovery such as sand quality and thickness, or of the location of the sidetrack. Appraisal wells will now be planned to assess the commerciality of Verbier, and to mature further prospectivity in the P2170 licence including the Cortina prospect and Meribel lead.
The discovery at Verbier is a welcome North Sea exploration success, with disappointing results elsewhere in the region in 2017 to date. The well has been Statoil’s only success in UK waters this year. Its Mariner Segment 9 well encountered oil in both the Heimdal and Maureen sands, but appears to have not proven up sufficient volumes to add resources to the nearby Mariner field. To the East of Shetland the Jock Scott well, drilled with partner BP was dry, with no reservoir found. Meanwhile Azinor Catalyst’s Partridge well found excellent quality reservoir sands in the Cretaceous target, but no hydrocarbons. Nexen’s Glengorm well, which was testing an Upper Jurassic target in the HPHT prospect, had to be abandoned following mechanical problems on both an initial well and a re-spudded well.
Further well results this year should include Craster, an HPHT gas condensate prospect currently being drilled to the West of Shetland by operator Nexen and BP. Located on the Rona Ridge between BP’s Clair field and Hurricane’s Lancaster discovery, results are due in the next few weeks if the well is on schedule. BP is also due to drill the Achmelvich prospect, to the south east of Clair, imminently.
Verbier partners are Statoil 70%, Jersey Oil & Gas PLC 18%, and CIECO Exploration & Production (UK) Ltd. 12%
