Providence prepares for Celtic programme

Two Celtic Sea oil fields off southern Ireland are due to be targeted during a new appraisal drilling programme which is due to kick off later this year operated by Providence Resources using the Global Santa Fe Arctic II semi-submersible.

Both wells will seek to test the delivery potential and areal extent of the two fields, Hook Head and Dunmore which have been previously drilled.

Providence also has an optional third well slot on the rig, which due to start drilling in August.

One well will be aimed at the Hook Head oil discovery, estimated to contain 60 m bbl of oil after data evaluation following the 50/11-3 well last year which encountered 100 ft of Lower Cretaceous pay.

The new well will be drilled at a structurally higher location, on the northwest field area, which is considered to be a low-risk well, and results will be used to place any further wells on the field.

“This drilling programme has been designed not only to further demonstrate the extent and magnitude of the Hook Head oil field but also to provide important information on Deliverability,” Providence indicated today.

A second well will be targeting the Dunmore oil find, 20 km (12.5 miles) from Hook head which flowed at 2,100 b/d of oil from the 50/6-1well. The new appraisal well using the Arctic II will be drilled 153 m (500 ft) up dip from the original well.

“Providence’s re-analysis of existing seismic data, together with a re-evaluation of the drill stem test data from the discovery well, suggest that the main structure contains contingent resources of c. 18 MMBO,” the company indicated.