UK: Maersk proves North Sea gas-condensate find

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Mar. 10 -- Maersk Oil appraised the 2008 Culzean high-pressure high-temperature gas-condensate discovery in the UK Central North Sea.

The 22/25a-10z appraisal well 145 km east of Aberdeen confirmed hydrocarbons in Triassic and Jurassic target reservoirs at an average depth of 14,765 ft. Maersk Oil tested two intervals at a rig-constrained rate of nearly 40 MMcfd of gas and 900 b/d of condensate per day per interval.

Culzean, originally discovered in the 22/25a-9z well, has the potential to be one of the most promising HPHT discoveries in the UK sector in recent years and will be a key project in Maersk Oil’s long term growth plan, Maersk Oil said.

Maersk Oil and its partners agreed to a further appraisal program that includes a sidetrack well downflank to the east of the appraisal well to assess the full extent of the field. The results of this sidetrack well are expected in summer 2011 after which a further appraisal well will be drilled.

Maersk Oil is operator with 49.99% interest. JX Nippon UK has 17.06%, Eni UK 16.95%, and BP 16%.