Cairn becoming operator of five Deltic’s North Sea gas licences

Oil and gas company Deltic Energy has completed the farm-out agreement of five of its gas licences in the Southern North Sea with Cairn Energy, which will now be operated by Cairn.

Deltic Energy entered into the farm-out agreement with Cairn’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Nautical Petroleum Limited, on 12 August this year.

The agreement allowed Cairn to acquire a 60 per cent interest in each of the P2428 (Cupertino Area) and P2567 (Cadence) licenses, along with a 70 per cent interest in the P2560, P2561, and P2562 licenses located between the Breagh and Tolmount gas fields.

Deltic and Cairn have now received the necessary regulatory approvals from the Oil & Gas Authority (OGA), which allowed them to enter into joint operating agreements for each of the five licences.

Graham Swindells, Chief Executive of Deltic Energy, commented: “Completion of this transformational multi-licence farm out marks the formal commencement of our partnership with Cairn which will see significant investment being made in Deltic’s strategic Southern North Sea gas exploration portfolio.”

Under the terms of the farm-out agreement, Cairn has paid Deltic a consideration of $1 million by way of contribution towards historic back costs. Furthermore, Deltic has retained a 40 per cent interest in licences P2428 and P2567 and a 30 per cent interest in licences P2560, P2561 and P2562. The company confirms that Cairn is funding 100 per cent of an agreed work programme for each of the five licences up to the point of making a drill or drop decision on each licence.

Deltic added that, following a drilling decision being made on either of P2428 and P2567, Cairn would fund 70 per cent of the costs of whichever well would be drilled first, subject to a gross well cost cap of $25 million. The agreement also states that Cairn will now become the operator of all five licences.

The firm explains that since the farm out was announced, the shooting of 3D seismic data started over the licence P2428 and surrounding areas, as a key component of the planned work programme. Deltic also says that ION Geophysical are currently in the process of acquiring approximately 700 square kilometres of seismic data, focusing on the Plymouth Zechstein Reef prospect. This will de-risk future drilling.

“Ahead of the completion of the transaction, we have already begun working with Cairn to progress activities on the licences. I am particularly pleased that the new 3D seismic survey has commenced so quickly after the announcement of the farm out, demonstrating a shared commitment to immediately accelerate the development of these licences and hence timeline to potential drilling,” explained Swindells.

According to Deltic’s statement, the survey is expected to be completed before the end of November, while the processed data is due to be delivered in the second quarter of 2022.

“We look forward to building our partnership with Cairn, as we continue to develop our conveyor belt of Southern North Sea gas prospects towards drilling,” added Swindells.

It is worth reminding that Cairn Energy revealed its plans to change the company name last week, which would become effective on 13 December 2021. The name change will reflect the continuity and evolution of the company.

Cairn also completed the sale of interests in two UK offshore fields for $455 million last week. The deal allowed it to divest itself of its 20 per cent interest in the Catcher field and 29.5 per cent interest in the Kraken field.