EnCore Oil reports that the Tudor Rose well 14/30a-5 in Central North Sea Block 14/30a has reached Total Measured Depth of 3,590 feet.

The well encountered an oil column within the target Beauly Formation and Oil Water Contact at 3,236 feet Total Vertical Depth Subsea. Wireline sampling and pressure testing of the hydrocarbon bearing zone has been undertaken and initial wellsite analysis of the samples suggest a viscosity of 600-800 Centipoise, which is likely too viscous to be commercially exploitable. Further onshore analysis will be required before this provisional evaluation can be confirmed. The well will now be plugged and abandoned.

Commenting on the result, Alan Booth, EnCore's Chief Executive Officer said,"The principal objective of this well was to establish the gravity and viscosity of the oil in place at Tudor Rose to determine if the oil may be capable of commercial exploitation; these provisional results suggest that this is unlikely to be the case. Although the well took longer than expected due to the poor offshore weather conditions we are pleased that EnCore's final well prior to its acquisition by Premier Oil was drilled safely and without incident."

The licence group comprises EnCore Oil, Endeavour Energy, EnQuest and Nautical Petroleum.

Tags: EnCore Oil plc