North Sea drilling ops lead to signs of hydrocarbons in UK waters

London-listed oil and gas company Harbour Energy has confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons at its recently drilled prospect in the Central North Sea on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).

According to Harbour Energy’s partner, Ithaca Energy (33% non-operated interest), the operator’s results of a recent exploration drilling at the Jocelyn South prospect (P032) in Block 30/07a in the Central North Sea showed signs of hydrocarbons.

After entering the reservoir, Harbour Energy encountered the top of the Joanne Reservoir at the depth of 12,620 feet true vertical depth below sea level (TVDSS) (17,763 ft measured depth (MD)). In addition, gas condensate (not sampled) was encountered in the Joanne sandstone reservoir, with a provisional net pay thickness in the well of 434 ft MD or 307.6 ft TVT. 

Ithaca explained that logging while drilling data, cuttings, and pressures were recorded during drilling to establish reservoir quality and fluid parameters. The operator intends to complete data gathering and evaluate the drilling results to establish the commerciality of the reservoir.

The Jocelyn South prospect forms part of the Harbour Energy-operated J-Area, where Ithaca Energy is a partner in the Jade field (32.5%), Judy field (33%), Jasmine field (33%), and the Talbot field (33%), which recently achieved first production in November 2024.

J-Area was Harbour’s largest producing asset in 2023, with production averaging 34 kboepd compared to 30 kboepd in 2022. The increase was driven by improved uptime and the contribution from new wells on-stream at the end of 2022 and early 2023.

The drilling at the Talbot development, a multi-well subsea tie-back to the Judy platform, was completed in 2023. The firm’s 2024 activities include the Jocelyn South exploration well, two infill wells at Judy, and a rig-based well intervention campaign. Harbour hired Noble Corporation’s harsh environment jack-up rig in May 2024 for well intervention work in the UK.

The company is also planning to drill additional wells to further increase recovery from J-Area. A few months ago, Harbour Energy brought all upstream business assets that used to belong to Germany’s Wintershall Dea, aside from the ones in Russia, into its fold.

Recently, Harbour Energy found gas in the appraisal well 6507/4-5 S in the Norwegian Sea, using the Transocean Norge rig.