EnCore Oil says that the Catcher North appraisal well 28/9-3 in UK Central North Sea Block 28/9 was spudded at 08.00 hours on Monday 24 January 2011.

The EnCore operated well is being drilled using the Transocean Galaxy II heavy duty jack-up rig and is being managed by Applied Drilling Technology International (ADTI), a turnkey drilling services provider with over 30 years' experience. The well is expected to take approximately 20 days, subject to weather and operational requirements.

The main objective of the well is to appraise the Tay and Cromarty reservoirs to the North of the Catcher discovery made in June 2010, at estimated depths of approximately 4,300 feet (Tay) and 4,500 feet (Cromarty) True Vertical Depth Sub Sea.

Catcher North is the second well in the current drilling campaign after the group took advantage of a weather window suitable for mobilisation from Varadero to the Catcher North location. Burgman will now be drilled following Catcher North.

The equity in the Catcher joint venture partnership is as follows: EnCore Oil plc (15 per cent., Operator), Premier Oil (35 per cent.), Wintershall (UK North Sea) Limited (20 per cent.), Nautical Petroleum (15 per cent.) and Agora Oil & Gas (15 per cent.).

Tags: EnCore Oil plc