North Sea Liberator project expanding

i3 Energy plans to submit a revised field development plan by year-end for its interests in UK North Sea blocks 13/23d and 13/23c.

Based on new mapping and analysis, the company sees the mid-case in place oil potential at 314 MMbbl.

Its previously submitted plan (to the UK’s Oil & Gas Authority) envisaged a staged, two-well development focused solely on development of the Liberator field area reserves in block 13/23d.

However, following the award of block 13/23c this May under the UK’s 30th Offshore Licensing Round, the Liberator development has expanded to include a western extension of the field into this block.

The company plans to drill an appraisal well to confirm the extension, convert contingent resources to reserves, and to help determine the location of the second of two initial development wells.

These will be positioned either in the east of the field in block 13/23d or in the center of the structure in block 13/23c. i3 aims to drill the first production well and appraisal well next summer, followed by assessment of the appraisal drilling results to optimize the location of the second development well.

This well would be drilled the following spring with start-up anticipated in summer 2020 following the installation of subsea infrastructure, initially producing up to 20,000 b/d from two wells.

Subject to reservoir performance, the company would drill a third Phase I development well, ahead of further seismic processing and appraisal of block 13/23c to prepare for the Phase II Liberator development.

In addition, i3 Energy has identified a northern structure in block 13/23c, named Serenity. This is an amplitude-supported feature extending more than 10 sq km (3.8 sq mi) and is thought to be a westerly extension of the Tain discovery.

The Tain discovery well, drilled in September 2005, delivered 32° API oil from Captain and Coracle sands, and was subsequently appraised by three wells.

Source: Offshore-Mag