The exploration well is located 8km SE of the MNSL-operated Camelot field, about 50km east of Bacton. The well encountered gas in the Rotliegend reservoir and tested at 65MMcf/d; data analysis and additional studies are being conducted to fully evaluate this discovery, and it is expected that this work will take several weeks. MNSL is the operator of the well with 70% interest, with co-venturer EOG Resources holding the remaining 30%.
A second ExxonMobil unit, Esso Exploration and Production UK Ltd, has participated in the production of first gas from the Carrack natural gas field, a Shell Exploration & Production-operated project, also located in the Southern North Sea. The Carrack field lies in a relatively-remote area about 120km NE of Bacton, close to the UK/Dutch border. It holds estimated resources of around 300Bcf of gas, which will be exported from the field to the mainland.
The project has been developed around a central hub platform located over the Carrack field from which four additional wells are expected to be drilled within the next year, with the capacity for more wells if required. A second, smaller, platform acts as a receiving facility for the Carrack gas production. These new platforms and the Carrack pipeline will facilitate tie-backs of any future fields or exploration discoveries in the area. Esso has a 48% equity interest in the project, with Shell Exploration & Production holding the balance.