Shell increases resource estimate at UK North Sea Selene prospect

Shell plc has increased its resource estimate at the Selene prospect in the UK Southern North Sea License P2437, said license partner Deltic Energy PLC (25%) in an Apr. 15 release.

Analysis of core samples from discovery well 48/8b-3Z is now substantially complete (OGJ Online, Oct. 31, 2024). Porosity and permeability measurements on 176 core plugs were taken from drill core samples over the Leman B-Sand, which is the key producing interval within the much thicker Leman Sandstone package. The core analysis indicates significantly better porosity and permeability than previously assumed in Deltic's P50 volumetric estimates and reservoir modelling. 

With this revised data, estimates for Gross 2C Contingent Resources at Selene have been increased to 174 bcf, 33% higher than previous estimates.

Analysis of the gas samples collected from 48/8b-3Z have proven the presence of a very dry, methane dominated natural gas with nominal concentrations of contaminants including CO₂ and N₂. This gas will require minimal processing to qualify for National Grid entry specifications, Deltic Energy said.

Following the drilling of 48/8b-3Z, the joint venture partners will move into the second term of the license and commit to the engineering, commercial, and regulatory workflows required to support a field development plan (FDP) and future final investment decision (FID) scheduled for early 2027.

The FDP incorporates two wells with a new normally unmanned installation tied back to existing production infrastructure on Barque field via a new 20 km subsea pipeline.    

Shell is operator at Selene (75%) with partner Deltic Energy (25%).