UK Oil & Gas Investments PLC (London AIM and ISDX: UKOG) has told DirectorsTalk that Horse Hill Developments Limited has informed the Company that light, 40-degree API, sweet oil has flowed naturally to surface from an 80-foot zone within the Lower Kimmeridge limestone interval at a depth of approximately 900 metres below ground level.
Flow commenced at around 10.00am GMT yesterday at an initial instantaneous rate in excess of 700 barrels per day using a 1-inch choke, in an approximate mix of 50:50 oil to water. The well was then choked back to 32/64 inches resulting in a steady early oil rate in excess of 463 barrels of oil per day over a further 7.3-hour period, in an approximate mix of over 99% oil and less than 1% water.
The Lower Kimmeridge flow period is planned to continue today at 0700 following an overnight shut-in from 1900 Monday. Upon completion, Phase 2 and Phase 3 operations will move to the shallower Upper Kimmeridge limestone and Portland sandstone zones at approximately 840 and 615 metres below ground level, respectively.
The HH-1 discovery well, the original exploration drilling phase originally completed at the end of 2014, is located within onshore exploration Licence PEDL137, on the northern side of the Weald Basin near Gatwick Airport. UKOG owns a 20.163% interest in PEDL137.
Stephen Sanderson, UKOG’s Executive Chairman commented: “This is a very significant event for the company and for oil and gas activity in the Weald basin of southern England. Importantly, tests so far show oil has flowed to the surface under its own pressure and has not, so far, required artificial lift.
The flow test, the first ever in the Lower Kimmeridge limestone within the Weald basin, provides proof that significant quantities of moveable oil exist within the Kimmeridge section of the well and can be brought to surface at excellent flow rates. In this case from a vertical well with minimal stimulation.
While these flow rates are significant and in excess of management’s expectations, it should be borne in mind that the planned future use of a horizontal well and appropriate conventional reservoir stimulation techniques could likely increase flow rates even further.
We look forward to more news from the final test results from the Lower Kimmeridge limestone and the shallower tests. The Company will be starting the regulatory permit process forthwith, so we can return to the well to seek to demonstrate sustainable commercial production.”
UKOG’s interest in Horse Hill
The HH-1 well is located within onshore exploration Licence PEDL137, on the northern side of the Weald Basin near Gatwick Airport. UKOG owns a 30% direct interest in HHDL and a 1.02% interest in HHDL via its 6% interest in Angus Energy Limited. HHDL is a special purpose company that owns a 65% participating interest and operatorship of Licence PEDL137 and the adjacent Licence PEDL246 in the UK Weald Basin.
