Rathlin Energy (UK) Ltd has started drilling at the onshore West Newton B-1 (WNB-1) well, following the West Newton A-2 (WNA-2) appraisal well (PEDL183), in East Yorkshire.
The site operator will use a Drillmec HH 220 drilling rig to drill a borehole to an approximate depth of 2,000 metres and take six to ten weeks to complete.
After completion the rig will be demobilised from the site over approximately one week.
The West Newton B-1 well is targeting the same conventional reservoirs in the Kirkham Abbey and Cadeby carbonate formations that were encountered in the recently drilled WNA-2 well.
Rock samples and other data taken from the drilling of WNB-1 will decide the subsequent programme of well testing to establish the well’s productive capability and any future drilling operations.
In November 2019, Rathlin provided initially in-place base case estimates in respect of the Kirkham Abbey formation of 146.4 million barrels (mmbbl) of oil and 211.5 bcf of gas initially in-place, with the upside case of 283 mmbbl oil and 265.9 bcf gas
The volumes exclude prospective resources in the Cadeby formation which is expected to have better reservoir development at the WNB-1 location.
Rathlin began drilling yesterday (4 October) and will continue operations day and night.
Union Jack Oil holds a 16.665% interest in West Newton A-1 discovery well and WNA-2 appraisal well.
The company said that if hydrocarbon is found in the deeper Cadeby formation “significant” value could be added to the West Newton field.
In August, Rathlin submitted screening requests to East Riding of Yorkshire Council for two new potential oil sites, West Newton C and West Newton D to determine the need for environmental impact assessments.
The West Newton field is situated close to existing infrastructure and at the heart of the Zero Carbon Humber project.
Rathlin Energy is 59% owned by investment firm Reabold Resources which also owns 16.665% interest in PEDL 183.
The remainder of Rathlin Energy is owned by Canadian firm Connaught Oil & Gas, with Union Jack Oil and Humber Oil & Gas both owning minority shares in the licence.