UK Oil & Gas Investments PLC (LSE AIM/ISDX: UKOG) has told DirectorsTalk that Horse Hill Developments Ltd has informed the Company that a planning application has been submitted to Surrey County Council seeking permission to conduct further significant appraisal testing and drilling at the Horse Hill-1 (“HH-1”) oil discovery, located in Licence PEDL137, close to Gatwick Airport. The HH-1 oil discovery achieved an aggregate stabilised flow rate of 1688 bopd from two Kimmeridge limestones plus the overlying Portland sandstone. The Company holds a 31.2% interest in PEDL137.
Subject to the required regulatory approvals, the first phase of the proposed development is planned to consist of the extended production testing of four zones, designed to confirm the commerciality of the discovery, and to examine a previously untested Kimmeridge limestone. The planning application also seeks permission for a two-well drilling phase, which contingent upon successful testing, will further appraise the extent of the oil accumulations and the field’s production capabilities. The proposed drilling phase includes plans for a deviated sidetrack, HH-1z, to be drilled from the existing HH-1 borehole, together with a new well, Horse Hill-2 (“HH-2”). On completion of drilling, both the HH-1z and HH-2 are planned to be long-term production tested.
In order to minimise impact to the locality, feedback from both a public consultation and engagement process, undertaken in July, and subsequent meetings with local residents’ representatives, was incorporated into the envisaged development design and planning application. The normal local planning authority cycle for an application not requiring an Environmental Impact Assessment such as at Horse Hill, takes approximately 13 weeks.
HHDL and the Company’s Interest in the Licence
HHDL is a special purpose vehicle, which owns a 65% working interest and operatorship of the Licence. UKOG now owns a 48% beneficial shareholding in HHDL, which equates to a 31.2% net working interest in the Licences. The remaining 35% interest in the Licences is held by Magellan Petroleum (UK) Limited.
Stephen Sanderson, UKOG’s Executive Chairman, commented: “This planning application, together with our recent Markwells Wood appraisal and development planning application, is firmly designed to move these assets into near term oil production and the monetisation of our core recoverable resources. It is also one of the next key steps in furthering our industry leading knowledge of the Kimmeridge limestone play that lies beneath our extensive acreage holding in the Weald. We look forward to further engaging with stakeholders and to a successful planning outcome.“
