Total makes ‘encouraging’ North Sea oil and gas discovery

Oil major Total has made an “encouraging” hydrocarbon discovery in the UK Central North Sea.

Total is now working with its partners to assess the newly found resources

The group has found gas and condensates in the Isabella well, about 40 kilometres south of the Elgin-Franklin Field and 170km east of Aberdeen.

The well was drilled in a water depth of about 80 meters and encountered 64 meters net pay of lean gas and condensate and high-quality light oil, in Upper Jurassic and Triassic sandstone reservoirs.

Total is now working with its partners to assess the resources and confirm their commercial viability.

The well is operated by Total with a 30 per cent working interest, alongside Neptune Energy (50 per cent), Ithaca Energy (10 per cent) and Euroil Exploration (10 per cent).

Kevin McLachlan, senior vice president exploration at Total, said: “The initial results at Isabella are encouraging. This demonstrates that our exploration strategy in the North Sea to explore for value adding prospects nearby to our infrastructure is working.”

Total’s UK oil principally comes from operated offshore fields the Alwyn/Dunbar area in the Northern North Sea, the Elgin/Franklin and Culzean area in the Central North Sea, and the Laggan-Tormore area in the West of Shetland.

Neptune boss Jim House added: “The discovery of hydrocarbons in three separate formations is positive news for Neptune and our partners. While analysis of the results is ongoing, the initial findings show significant promise.

“The result further strengthens our growing UK portfolio and demonstrates the significant remaining hydrocarbon potential in the region.”