http://www.scotsman.com/business/management/trap-oil-plucks-orchid-discovery-as-drilling-trio-unveil-overseas-plans-1-2722931
Trap Oil plucks Orchid discovery as drilling trio unveil overseas plans
Scottish oil firms have revealed a string of expansion moves across the globe. Picture: Getty Image
By PETER RANSCOMBE
Published on Tuesday 8 January 2013 00:00
DRILLING firm Trap Oil is buying a majority stake in the Orchid oil discovery in the North Sea, while a trio of Scottish explorers unveiled plans to drill for oil across Africa, Europe and the Middle East this year.
Trap, which took over Aberdeenshire-based Reach Oil & Gas in 2011, will pay Summit Petrol-eum £1.5 million in cash for its 45 per cent stake in Orchid, to the east of Peterhead.
The deal, which needs to be approved by the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC), would take Trap’s holding to 60 per cent.
Aim-quoted Trap has also applied to DECC for permission to take over as operator of the discovery from Summit Petroleum.
Valiant Exploration holds a 30 per cent share in Orchid, while Atlantic Petroleum has the remaining 10 per cent stake.
Mark Groves Gidney, Trap’s chief executive, said: “I am pleased we have managed to secure this opportunity to potentially increase our existing interest and move this asset forward in the short term.
“It marks another step towards Trap Oil becoming a well-established and recognised operator in the UK North Sea.”
News of the potential deal came as three oil companies laid out their drilling plans for the year ahead, spreading Scottish workers and their expertise across the globe.
Petroceltic, the Aim-quoted driller that took over Edinburgh-based peer Melrose Resources last year, expects to drill ten wells, with five exploration holes spread across Bulgaria, Egypt, the Kurdistan region of Iraq and Romania.
A further five development wells will be drilled, consisting of four in Egypt and the resumption of work at its Kaliakra discovery in the Romanian sector of the Black Sea.
Chief executive Brian O’Cathain said: “This announcement clearly demonstrates the scale and diversity of the Petroceltic business following the merger with Melrose Resources in October.
“Our business is now generating strong cash flows, undertaking active exploration in five countries and moving into development of the world class Ain Tsila gas-condensate project [in Algeria].
“We anticipate an exciting year ahead, with a sustained exploration drilling programme, which offers exposure to a diversified portfolio of prospects including the company’s first well in Kurdistan.”
Petroceltic is one of house broker Davy’s “top picks for 2013”, with analysts highlighting the increased flow of news.
Stock market newcomers Bridge Energy and Eland Oil & Gas also delivered operational updates, with the Aberdeen-based pair targeting the North Sea and Nigeria respectively.
Bridge, which joined Aim in September and is also listed in Oslo, confirmed plans to drill three exploration wells and said it will continue to look at acquisition targets.
Eland, which also made its Aim debut in September, said it expects to produce 2,500 barrels of oil a day from its OML 40 onshore licence in Nigeria by the end of March. Shell drilled OML 40 in 1964 but production shut down in 2006.