Hartshead Resources has issued a progress report on preparations for its planned Anning/Somerville gas fields development in the UK southern North Sea.
Late last year, the company received a reprocessed volume of seismic data from PGS. The work involved pre-stack depth migration processing of existing seismic to improve imaging of the subsurface in the two fields and of other exploration prospects in license P2607.
Hartshead’s interpretation has revealed only slight differences between the two seismic versions, strengthening estimate volumes of the gas in place.
But near the flank of the fields, the new assessment shows the structures have been lifted up, which suggests higher volumes within both fields.
Enhanced imaging of the other exploration prospects will help the company identify key opportunities to progress these in conjunction with the Anning and Somerville development, as it seeks to maintain gas production as high as possible.
Hartshead has used the improved seismic to develop a single subsurface model for the two fields. This, combined with updated reservoir properties, should help the company provide detailed responses to questions raised previously by the UK’s North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) as part of the field development plan approval process.
Prior to starting detailed well planning, Hartshead will use the subsurface model to determine the well paths to optimize the well trajectories—the aim being to maximize gas recovery from cost-effective drilling operations.
The company also noted partner Viaro Energy’s recent agreement with Shell and Exxon Mobil to acquire their 100% interest in Shell-operated UK southern North Sea assets. These include the Corvette and Leman fields and their associated infrastructure, which could provide an offtake route for Hartshead’s Phase I development.
