Phillips announces successful appraisal well in North Sea

Phillips Petroleum and its co-venturers have announced a successful appraisal well on Block 15/27 in the U.K. sector of the North Sea.
The 15/27-6 well is 109 miles northeast of Aberdeen, Scotland, and 13 miles southeast of Amerada Hess' Ivanhoe/Rob Roy fields in 486 feet of water. Phillips used the semi-submersible drilling rig Borgny Dolphin to drill the well in August and September of 1997.
Two intervals were tested: The first flowed at average rates of 2,200 bpd and 1.7 mm cfpd of gas through a 40/64-inch choke, and the second flowed at average rates of 8,050 bpd and 5.2 mm cfpd of gas through a 60/64-inch choke. Oil gravity was 37-38 API.
Analysis of the test is continuing. Phillips UK and its co-venturers are discussing development of the field with the Department of Trade and Industry.
Phillips UK and its co-venturers are proposing to develop the field via sub-sea facilities tied back to Amerada Hess' Ivanhoe/Rob Roy floating production facility, the AH-001. Production could begin in the fourth quarter of 1998.
When Phillips discovered the field in 1976, a lack of infrastructure in the area meant the company was unable to move forward with development, according to Bud Chamberlain, managing director of Phillips UK. Since then, the company has drilled several wells in the area and studied more than 900 sq km of 3D seismic to build a large data base of information. "The results of this well, combined with other data we have collected and the growing infrastructure in the area, put us in a good position to develop this field," said Chamberlain. "The North Sea has played an important role in Phillips' business for more than three decades, and this field has the potential to strengthen our presence there."
Phillips is operator of Block 15/27 with a 43.77 % interest. Co-venturers are Agip, 17.26 %; BG Exploration and Production Limited, 16.47 %; Amerada Hess Limited, 14 %; and Deminex UK Oil and Gas Limited, 8.5 %. Phillips' first discovery well on Block 15/27 was drilledin 1976. Since that time, five wells have been drilled. The field is part of a development area Phillips calls R-Block, which also includes a 1985 discovery on Block 15/28b. The company plans four development wells on Block 15/27 and one on 15/28b. Combined initial gross production rate is expected to be 22,000 bpd.