Drilling starts at Wressle-1 exploration well

Drilling operations have begun at the Wressle-1 conventional oil exploration well in Lincolnshire Licence PEDL 180 east of Scunthorpe, UK.

The well will be drilled to a total depth of around 2,300m to intersect several prospective Upper Carboniferous age sandstone reservoirs in the Wressle structure.

The PEDL 180 licence covers an area of 100km² and is held by Europa Oil & Gas with a 33.34% stake, Egdon Resources UK with a 25% operating stake, Celtique Energie Petroleum with a 33.33% stake, and Union Jack with an 8.33% stake.

Egdon said that the Wressle prospect is situated on trend with the producing Crosby Warren oil field and the Broughton-B1 oil discovery, both to the northwest, and the Brigg-1 oil discovery to the southeast.

The gross mean prospective resources at Wressle are estimated to be 2.1 million barrels of oil.

Egdon Resources managing director Mark Abbott said: "We are pleased to be commencing a more active operational period with the start of drilling operations on the Wressle prospect and we look forward to updating shareholders with the results from this well towards the end of August."

Europa Oil & Gas CEO Hugh Mackay said: "Wressle will be followed by the 2.9 million barrels of oil Kiln Lane prospect on the neighbouring licence PEDL 181 which remains on track to spud in Q4 2014. Work undertaken to date includes the submission of the relevant planning application, negotiations completed and a lease signed for a suitable well site, engagement with the Environment Agency to secure a mining waste permit and procurement of long lead items of drilling equipment."

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Image: The Wressle-1 conventional oil exploration well will be drilled to a total depth of around 2,300m. Photo: courtesy of meepoohfoto/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.