Northern Petroleum, an oil and gas explorer and producer, operating in areas of low risk, has been awarded part blocks 98/13 and 98/14 in the UK 26th Licensing Round. The new licence is located offshore adjacent to Northern’s Isle of Wight onshore licence, PEDL 240, awarded in May 2008.
The part blocks 98/13 and 98/14 cover the offshore extension from PEDL 240 of a prospect that has been mapped prior to 2008 using both seismic and well data and is located in the same petroleum basin as the Wytch Farm oil field which is tha largest onshore field in western Europe.
“We are very pleased to have been offered part blocks 98/13 and 98/14. This allows the Joint Venture to evaluate the oil and gas potential of the mapped well defined prospect that extends from the Isle of Wight into the English Channel. This award is the result of competitive bids under the 26th Licensing Round.” , said Derek Musgrove, Managing Director of Northern .
Mr. Musgrove then continued: “Northern recognises that the prospect is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and a Heritage Coast. At Northern we well understand the attendant challenges that are posed in conducting field operations in an environmentally safe and responsible manner. To date, Northern has an exemplary track record for its drilling operations, the most recent of which was Markwells Wood-1, completed in January 2011, which is currently undergoing flow testing operations in West Sussex.”
[mappress] Offshore Energy Today Staff, January 5, 2012; Image: Magellan