Serica Energy has won production licences for two projects located offshore UK.
The company was awarded the licences in the final stage of the 26th Round of UK Offshore Licensing announced by the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
Serica Energy chairman and interim CEO Tony Craven Walker said that the company intends to seek a partner for East Irish Sea block 110/8b with a view to extending the exploration programme in this block, and that discussions have already begun.
"In the Southern North Sea, the blocks offered for award lie very close to the York field," said Walker. "We expect them to contain additional gas reserves, which, if proven, can easily be produced through the York field facilities."
The first licence is for block 110/8b, which is located in the East Irish Sea; Serica will be the operator with a 100% interest.
Serica’s work programme includes a 3D seismic reprocessing programme to delineate a gas prospect that has been provisionally identified in the block.
The second licence is for blocks 47/2b (split), 47/3g (split), 47/7 (split) and 47/8d (part) located in the Southern North Sea.
These were offered under a single licence to a group in which Serica has a 37.5% interest; Centrica is the operator for the group.
These blocks are contiguous part blocks immediately adjacent to the York field, also operated by Centrica.
A number of gas prospects were provisionally identified on the blocks at the Leman (Permian) and Namurian (Carboniferous) levels.
The work commitment will include a 3D seismic survey and reprocessing of existing seismic data.
