Blocks 16/2b - CairngormStratic holds a 100% working interest and operates block 16/2b in the central North Sea area. Stratic’s interest in block 16/2b was acquired in December 2004, and the licence has entered it’s second term following the drilling of the 16/2b-5A appraisal well in 2008/9. The block is located in water depths of approximately 110 m to 140 m and is adjacent to the main producing areas of the South Viking Graben. Production infrastructure is potentially available via the Brae complex to the south-east and the SAGE gas pipeline passes through the western part of the block. The Cairngorm field discovery, which straddles blocks 16/2b and 16/3d was discovered in 1990 by well 16/3a-11. Although this well flowed at rates in excess of 2,000 bopd, there are uncertainties with regards to the volume of recoverable oil in the granite reservoir, the extent of the fractured granite, whether the fracture system extends into the Old Devonian sandstone and the depth of the oil-water contact. Stratic completed a 3D seismic data acquisition programme during 2006, covering blocks 16/2b and 16/3d. Prior to this new survey, seismic data over the area was poor. Processed seismic data from the new survey became available for interpretation in April 2007 and was used to locate the 16/2b-5A well drilled in late 2008. The 16/2b-5A well was drilled jointly with Nippon Oil Exploration and Production UK Limited (NOEPUK) in late 2008. Due to operational problems, the well never reached it’s anticipated TD in the granite, but did satisfy the licence requirements for licence P1214 containing block 16/2b. Following this well, Stratic acquired NOEPUK’s interest in the Cairngorm area. Recent attempts to farm out our interest on block 16/3d proved unsuccessful, and this block was relinquished in December 2009 at the end of the first exploration term. We plan to reapply for this block in the up and coming UK 26th licensing round.
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