Azinor Catalyst has reported an oil discovery at its 9/14a-17B exploration well and associated side-track on the Agar-Plantain prospect in the UK North Sea.
The company noted that the initial 9/14a-17B well, which was drilled by the Transocean Leader semi-submersible drilling rig, encountered excellent quality oil and water-bearing sands.
As the wellbore delineated the eastern extent of the hydrocarbon discovery, the licence partners drilled the contingent Agar side-track to further appraise the discovery.
The side-track has hit a 20m interval of quality oil-bearing sands.
Located close to existing infrastructure, the discovery is estimated to contain recoverable resources ranging between 15 and 50 million barrels of oil equivalent (Mboe), based on a preliminary analysis.
With a 25% interest, well operator Catalyst added that further analysis will be required to establish the quality of the oil.
Azinor Catalyst managing director Nick Terrell said: “Given the proximity to local infrastructure, the shallow reservoir depths and significant upside on the block, this is shaping up to be a highly attractive project for us.”
Cairn Energy’s wholly owned subsidiary Nautical Petroleum owns a 50% stake, while the remaining 25% is held by Faroe Petroleum.
Cairn stated that the partners will carry out further evaluation of development options to establish commerciality.
Catalyst is currently working on plugging and abandoning the Agar-Plantain well.
In 2014, the company made the Agar discovery with the 9/14a-15A exploration well, which encountered a 33ft column.
Cairn farmed into licence P1763 with Azinor Catalyst in June, which saw the acquisition of a 25% interest within the greater licence area and a 50% stake in the Sole Risk Area that comprises Plantain-Agar.
