The well, on block 21/7, encountered 105 ft (32 m) of Palaeocene Cromarty sands but logs identified only residual oil. This suggests that the trap, identified pre-drilling as the critical risk factor, leaked.
Premier’s next Tertiary prospect drilling in the UK sector will focus on thegreater Catcher area in the central North Sea, with the Bonneville well due to spud in March.
Its higher impact North Sea exploration program will be directed at deeper Mesozoic plays, with both the Luno II and Lacewing wells expected to spud early next year.
