i3 Energy PLC drilled a dry hole in the 13/23c-12 Serenity appraisal well on UK License P.2358, Block 13/12c, in the Outer Moray Firth area of the UK continental Shelf (UKCS). The well was drilled to a TVD of 5,630 ft below sea level targeting the Lower Cretaceous Captain sand. More than 100 ft of other Captain sands in various sequences were found but were water wet. Hydrocarbons were not present in this well.
Data recovered from the well will be integrated into further reservoir modelling to optimize a development plan to exploit reserves identified in the 13/23c-10 discovery well drilled in the eastern area of the structure in October 2019. The appraisal encountered a 20-ft thick oil-bearing sand (11-ft true vertical thickness) unit at the top of the Lower Cretaceous Captain sequence (OGJ Online, May 31, 2022).
The well will now be plugged and abandoned.
The well was drilled below budget and with no health, safety, environmental, or lost time incidents. Total gross cost is expected to be about £10.4 million ($11.5 million).
i3 has 75% working interest in Serenity, but under the terms of the farmout with Europa Oil and Gas (Holdings) PLC, i3's paying interest for the 13/23c-12 well is 53.75%.
