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Northern has built an impressive portfolio of exploration prospects and the start of a production position within the heart of the proven play fairway in the Weald Basin containing prolific hydrocarbon source rocks and multi-field productive reservoir rocks. This was possible through a deal in 2003 with Star Energy providing Northern with the larger part of a now substantial database that has been used to derisk a number of prospects ahead of drilling. Works on a planning application and drill site leases are pending completion in the second and third quarters of 2008. The process for drilling the first well on the Markwell’s Wood prospect, a mapped eastward extension of the producing Horndean oil field, achieved Planning Consent on 13 May 2008 and the well is scheduled for later in the year.
Weald Basin - Future Drilling Plans
Concerted efforts were applied over a period of more than two years to plan and to secure the relevant planning approvals necessary to drill the Markwells Wood prospect in PEDL 126 (50% Northern). During this process Northern hosted open local consultation meetings. The well will evaluate an eastward extension of the Horndean field (10% Northern) and has been estimated to contain 27.5 million barrels of oil in place.
Northern has also mapped an attractive prospect overlapping both PEDL 099 and PEDL 155 to the south of the Horndean field and is in advanced negotiations with a local landowner to lease a site suitable for drilling. Northern expects to file a planning application in the second half of 2008.
During 2007 Northern completed the reprocessing of seismic data over the Hedge End oil field discovery. These data demonstrate greatly improved imaging of the structure facilitating the identification of subsurface targets. Work is progressing to identify a suitable site from which drilling operations can take place taking all community and environmental matters into consideration. As always Northern will work in close cooperation and consultation with local community representatives, Planning Officers and Environmental Officers.
Avington Field - Appraisal Well Drilling
The Avington-3 well (PEDL 069 & 070, 5% Northern) was successfully sidetracked during the summer of 2007. The well was put on a 90 day extended flow test and flowed oil at a rate of 250 barrels per day prior to pump installation. The new geological and reservoir engineering information has been integrated in to the Field Development Plan which has been submitted to Hampshire County Council. It is hoped that long term production can commence once planning approval is granted. It is scheduled for the second or third quarter 2008.
Kent
The drilling prospect portfolio on PEDL 153 (33.34% Northern) has been high graded with a view to inviting selected companies to participate in further exploration. The prime attraction is the good quality Corallian sandstone reservoir productive at the nearby Palmers Wood oil field.
Wessex Basin
The reprocessing and interpretation of key seismic data has been completed on PEDL 089b (10% Northern) and as a result the Hurst Castle prospect is viewed as not large enough to justify an exploration well. Although the licence term has been extended, there are no plans to drill.
Further information
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