Azinor spins drill bit at Partridge

Azinor Catalyst, the Seacrest Capital Group-backed E&P company focused on the UK Continental Shelf, has started drilling an exploration well at the Partridge prospect in the UK sector of the North Sea. 

Azinor informed that the 14/11a-2 well on the Partridge prospect was spudded at approximately 6.30 am on August 15, 2017, using the Ocean Guardian semi-submersible drilling rig. The rig contract was awarded to the Diamond Offshore-owned semi-submersible in May 2017.

The 14/11a-2 well is expected to take around 30 days to complete and will be drilled to a depth of 2,450m TVDSS. It is then the company’s intention to immediately mobilize the Ocean Guardian to the Viking Graben where preparations will start to drill a second well, which will appraise the Agar discovery and includes a sidetrack to test the Plantain Prospect.

The Partridge Prospect’s pre-drill recoverable volumes have been estimated at 119 million barrels oil equivalent in the mid case, with an upside case of 260 million barrels oil equivalent.

Nick Terrell, Managing Director of Azinor Catalyst, commented: “The high impact Partridge well is our first operated exploration well and a significant milestone for the company. Our focus is now on delivering a safe and efficient operation, working closely with our drilling and service contractors. Once our Partridge well has been completed, we hope to move the Ocean Guardian drilling rig to our Agar discovery where an appraisal well is planned to delineate this high potential accumulation.”

“Both of these wells and plays have huge prospectivity and we look forward to providing further updates on operations in due course.”

Catalyst acquired a 100% operated interest in blocks 14/11a, 14/12a and 14/16a, which contain the Partridge Prospect, in December 2015.

Catalyst holds a 50% interest in blocks 9/9d and 9/14a, which contain the Agar Discovery and Plantain Prospect. Catalyst made the Agar Discovery in 2014 with the 9/14a-15A exploration well which encountered a 33ft column (oil-down-to) in high quality Eocene Frigg Formation sands. Agar and Plantain have estimated combined mid case resources of 60 million barrels oil equivalent, with an upside case of 98 million barrels oil equivalent.

Earlier this month, Azinor hired TWMA to provide drill cuttings containment and processing services on the Ocean Guardian rig.