Three energy companies discover UK’s largest onshore gas field

Reabold Resources, Union Jack Oil and Rathlin Energy have discovered what could potentially be the UK’s largest onshore gas field.

Preliminary data suggests the West Newton A-2 well, situated within PEDL 183 in Humberside, could hold at least 189 billion cubic feet of gas, or 31.3 million barrels of oil.

Reabold Resources said the site could potentially be the largest hydrocarbon discovery in the UK since 1973.

Spudded on 26 April, the West Newton A-2 well reached a total depth of 2,061m on 9 June 2019.

Substantial hydrocarbon accumulation within a net 65m interval had been encountered in the primary target, the Kirkham Abbey formation. The companies have also identified significant liquids component from core and logging data.

The well is also reported to have encountered hydrocarbon shows within the secondary target Cadeby formation with an oil saturated core. Union Jack Oil said the intersection is consistent with the West Newton A-1 well from which an oil saturated core was recovered.

The companies have completed drilling operations and ran production casing in preparation for testing of the interval, for which planning consent has already been secured. The will now be temporarily suspended, pending further assessment.

The test would determine flow rates and inform the forward work programme, with testing operations anticipated to start in the third quarter of 2019.

Reabold Resources co-CEO Sachin Oza said: “We are delighted by today’s results confirming that West Newton could potentially be the UK’s largest onshore gas field. The results of the well have exceeded our expectations and have also shown a significant liquid hydrocarbon volume which has increased our excitement and the future value of the field materially.

“From its onshore location near Hull and with nearby infrastructure available, we anticipate that West Newton can provide material volumes of hydrocarbons for the UK’s energy needs at low cost and in the near term.”