Spirit to take over North Sea discovery after ‘encouraging’ results

UK-based Spirit Energy will become the operator of a new Southern North Sea discovery after an encouraging exploration campaign.

The Ossian-Darach exploration well encountered hydrocarbons, in license P2133, and was plugged and abandoned during August 2019.

According to Spirit Energy’s statement on Friday, the company has a 35% stake and subject to regulatory approval will take on operatorship of the license from ONE-Dyas on February 1, 2020.

The well was spudded on May 16, 2019, and reached a total measured depth of 3300 meters using the Valaris JU-121, formerly Ensco 121, jack-up rig.

Spirit said that the well had encountered both gas and oil. Further appraisal is required to confirm volumes and the commerciality of the discovery, the company added.

Andromeda North

Meanwhile, Spirit said that data from a discovery on Andromeda North, block 43/12a-3, would be integrated into the ongoing development work within the Greater Pegasus Area.

As previously reported, the Andromeda North well proved a natural gas discovery in the Carboniferous objective but at the lower end of expectations.

The Andromeda North exploration well, which was spudded on July 29 with the Noble Hans Deul jack-up rig, was completed on October 22, 2019.

Spirit Energy has a 55% operated interest in Andromeda, and alongside partner Hague & London Oil encountered a significant gas column as well as multiple moderate to good quality sandstone packages within the Westphalian A target interval on the northern side of the Pegasus West bounding fault.

The Andromeda North discovery is located in the block immediately to the west of the Pegasus West discovery currently under review for development concepts.

Anne-Sophie Cyteval, UK Subsurface Manager at Spirit Energy, said: “We are very pleased with the results we are seeing in the Southern North Sea, and on Ossian-Darach look forward to continuing our work with our partners as we move towards operatorship of the license.

“Each well improves our understanding of the area and we have confidence that this is an important area of the North Sea for Spirit Energy worth continued investment.”

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