Press Release
19 November 2007
DANA PETROLEUM PLC
("DANA", "THE COMPANY", OR "THE GROUP")
SUCCESSFUL APPRAISAL AND DEVELOPMENT WELL AT GROUSE OIL FIELD
Dana today announces the successful drilling and testing of well 21/19-12z to appraise the Grouse oil field. Grouse is located in Block 21/19 within the Greater Kittiwake Area (“GKA”) in the UK Central North Sea
Grouse was first discovered in 1981 by the 21/19-1a well. Subsequent work justified drilling a horizontal well to target better quality, thicker reservoir sands to the southwest of the discovery well. This well was spudded by the Noble TVL semi-submersible rig in late August and has now been successfully completed. Stabilised flow rates in excess of the pre-drill expectations were achieved. The well flowed at rates of over 10,600 boepd, through a 32/64” choke, with a tubing head pressure of around 2,700 psi, but this flow rate was limited by the throughput capacity of the test equipment.
The well will be suspended for use as a future producer and Grouse will be developed as a subsea tieback to the Kittiwake platform utilising the Goosander production riser which was installed in 2006. Planning for a fast track development will commence immediately with first oil targeted for first quarter 2009.
Commenting on the news, Tom Cross, Dana’s Chief Executive said:
“The very positive Grouse appraisal well results are another important step forward in the Greater Kittiwake Area, building on the development of the Gadwall field, the high performing Goosander field and the work done in the Kittiwake and Mallard fields, since this area was acquired from Shell and Esso in 2003. With the imminent start-up of the new Kittiwake-Forties pipeline, the drilling of the Morgan exploration well in early 2008 and the further potential production from additional satellite fields, the producing life of this area will be significantly extended.”
19 November 2007
For further information please contact:
| Tom Cross, Chief Executive | Dana Petroleum plc | 01224 652400 |
| Stuart Paton, Technical & Commercial Director | Dana Petroleum plc | 01224 652400 |
| Nick Elwes | College Hill Associates | 020 7457 2020 |
Notes to Editors:
- The Grouse base case development is expected to deliver an initial gross oil production rate of approximately 10,000 barrels per day.
- The Greater Kittiwake Area, including the Grouse field, is jointly owned by Venture Production plc (50% and Operator) and Dana Petroleum plc (50%) and contains the currently producing Kittiwake, Mallard, Gadwall and Goosander fields.
- The undeveloped Christian (oil) and Bligh (gas condensate) discoveries to the east provide additional potential upside from GKA. In addition, there is redevelopment potential in the previously decommissioned Durward and Dauntless oil fields, plus a number of exploration prospects also within tie-back range of the Kittiwake platform.
- Dana is participating in the Morgan exploration well (Dana 35%) in early 2008. The well will be operated by Noble Energy using a rig slot assigned to them by Dana.
Summary of Greater Kittiwake Area Fields & Prospects
Field/Prospect |
Dana |
Project Status |
Planned Activity/Facilities |
Kittiwake |
50.0% |
Producing oil field |
Permanently manned platform, host facility |
Mallard |
50.0% |
Producing oil field |
Subsea tie back - |
Gadwall |
50.0% |
Producing oil field |
Sub-sea tie back - on stream in April 2005 |
Goosander |
50.0% |
Producing oil field |
Sub-sea tie back - on stream August 2006 |
Grouse |
50.0% |
Planned oil field development |
Appraisal well recently completed |
Christian |
50.0% |
Undeveloped oil discovery |
Medium-term development well candidate |
Bligh |
20.8% |
Undeveloped gas condensate discovery |
Longer term potential development candidate |
Durward / Dauntless |
50.0% |
Previously decommissioned |
Potential re-development under consideration |
Whinchat & Wagtail |
50.0% |
Discoveries to the south-east of Kittiwake |
Appraisal drilling planned 2009/10 |
Morgan |
35% |
Exploration well early 2008 |
Oil prospect adjacent to GKA |
