royscoones
- 03 Feb 2008 16:10
This company seems to have been searching for a long time - any ideas out there?
HARRYCAT
- 23 Sep 2015 08:49
- 301 of 364
Blink exploration well commences drilling in the Norwegian Sea
Faroe Petroleum is pleased to announce the commencement of the second Pil/Bue follow-up well with the spudding of exploration well 6406/12-5S (Faroe 25%) on the Blink prospect.
The Blink prospect is located in the Norwegian Sea in Licence PL586, which also contains the significant Pil and Bue discoveries (announced in 2014). The licence is located in proximity to the producing Njord field (Faroe 7.5%).
The drilling programme will target the Upper Jurassic reservoirs analogous to the Pil, Bue and Draugen field reservoirs. This well follows on directly from the Boomerang well which encountered a 26 metre gross Upper Jurassic intra-Spekk/Rogn sandstone containing estimated recoverable resources of between 13 and 31 million barrels of oil equivalent.
The Blink exploration well, located in water depth of approximately 360 metres, is operated by VNG Norge AS (30%) using the Transocean Arctic semi-submersible drilling rig with partners Spike Exploration AS (30%) and Pure E&P Norway AS (15%) and the results will be announced when drilling operations are complete.
required field
- 23 Sep 2015 20:29
- 302 of 364
I wish the blinkin' crude price would buck up...(with the price at the pumps remaining the same).....
required field
- 23 Sep 2015 20:34
- 303 of 364
The sp a few years ago would be way past 150p now....how times have changed and makes me wonder....crude cannot remain so low forever....
HARRYCAT
- 03 Nov 2015 08:31
- 304 of 364
Operational Update
Faroe Petroleum, the independent oil and gas company focusing principally on exploration, appraisal and production opportunities in Norway and the UK, is pleased to provide an operational update following completion of its 2015 drilling campaign as follows:
Highlights
- Production is continuing to perform above expectations and therefore 2015 full year guidance has increased to 9,500-10,500 boepd
- Blink exploration well 6406/12-5S (Faroe 25%) discovered prognosed reservoir but water wet
- The Pil, Bue and Boomerang discoveries constitute a large oil and gas accumulation and work will now proceed with field development planning
- Faroe's planned E&A drilling programme continues with an exciting programme for 2016 consisting of one frontier exploration well in the Barents Sea and two near field exploration wells, one in the Norwegian North Sea and the other in the Norwegian Sea. The 2016 total exploration programme cost is expected to be significantly lower than the 2015 programme
- The Njord Future Project is progressing to plan with tow-in expected in Q2 2016
- The Butch oil field development project has passed concept selection and will be advanced as a cost effective subsea tie-back to the Ula field
- Faroe has acquired a 75% interest and the operatorship of the South East Tor oil discovery in Norway from Lundin Petroleum
- Faroe's recent Roc Oil UK acquisition, comprising interests in Blane and Enoch, is expected to complete shortly
- Balance sheet remains strong with significant cash position, healthy cash flow, low debt and material undrawn debt capacity to assist in funding growth opportunities
Production
Production remains strong averaging approximately 10,350 boepd in the year to date. No significant further shut down periods are expected in any of the Company's largest fields and on that basis, Faroe announces an upward revision of the 2015 full year production guidance to 9,500 to 10,500 boepd average.
Exploration programme
Despite the disappointing well results on the Blink prospect, the Pil, Bue and Boomerang discoveries constitute a large oil and gas accumulation and together one of the most significant new discoveries and pending development projects in Norway in recent years. Their location, in close proximity to infrastructure and to Njord and Draugen, represents additional strategic significance. Work will proceed with planning of the Pil area field development (Faroe 25%). A large amount of data has been acquired during this year's drilling campaign, which will be used to revise the recoverable resource ranges, which currently stand at between 80 and 200 mmboe for Pil and Bue and between 13 and 21 mmboe for Boomerang. The combined discoveries have the potential to be either a standalone development or a tie-back to either the Njord field (Faroe 7.5%) or the Draugen field.
Faroe's drilling programme continues into 2016 with one frontier exploration well and two near field exploration wells currently being planned. The first well in early 2016 will be the giant Kvalross exploration well (Faroe 40%) in the Barents Sea operated by Wintershall. Kvalross will target a new play of Lower Triassic clinoform reservoirs within a megaclosure. The well will also target the Kvaltann Prospect consisting of channel sandstones in the Middle Triassic Snadd Formation. In addition to this high impact well, Faroe is planning two near field exploration wells, the first of which is the Norwegian North Sea Brasse exploration well (Faroe 50%) expected to be drilled mid next year. Brasse will test a structure immediately to the south of the Brage field and if successful could be tied back to Brage (Faroe 14.3%) or alternatively to Oseberg located a similar distance to the west. In addition, the Njord partnership (Faroe 7.5%) led by operator Statoil is planning to drill a new prospect, on the North Flank of Njord, in close proximity to the main field.
The Dazzler well in the Barents Sea, which was previously expected to be drilled in 2016, is now expected in 2017.
HARRYCAT
- 06 Jan 2016 08:29
- 305 of 364
StockMarketWire.com
Faroe Petroleum reports a material increase in reserves following an independent technical report by Senergy (GB) Limited (LR Senergy).
Proved plus probable 2P reserves net to Faroe at 1 January 2016 have been estimated at 60.6 mmboe, representing an increase of 98.0% as compared to 30.6 mmboe at 1 January 2015. The principal differences result from:
* Adding the Butch field in Norway (Faroe 15%) to 2P Reserves: in October 2015, the operator Centrica and partners announced that the Butch field will be developed as a subsea tie-back to the BP-operated Ula field. LR Senergy has assessed Butch 2P Reserves net to Faroe at 6.4 mmboe;
* Adding Pil field in Norway (Faroe 25%) to 2P reserves: LR Senergy has evaluated the progress that has been made by the operator VNG Norge AS and partners in maturing the Pil discovery towards project selection in 2016, and has also evaluated the development options, which have been demonstrated to be economically viable. On that basis, LR Senergy has concluded that the volumes associated with the Pil project can be categorised as 2P Reserves. These have been assessed at 23.8 mmboe net to Faroe. The Pil 2P Reserves do not include the volumes associated with the Bue and Boomerang discoveries, which are currently less mature technically and will remain as Contingent Resources ("2C") for the time being;
* Further 2P Reserves have been added through the acquisition of Roc Oil (GB Holdings) Limited: LR Senergy have assessed 2P Reserves associated with the acquired 12.5% interest in the Blane Unit and 12.0% interest in the Enoch Unit at 1.6 mmboe;
* In addition, a number of positive technical revisions have allowed partial reserves replacement in the existing producing fields.
Chief executive Graham Stewart said: "I am very pleased to report this material increase in reserves over the year, generated principally from exploration success and which further underpins the significant value of the Company. This doubling of 2P reserves demonstrates clearly how our consistent strategy is delivering tangible results. "We look forward to an exciting three well exploration drilling programme for 2016 in Norway, which is firming up on cost efficient terms. Faroe enters 2016 in a robust financial position, with strong production, a solid cash balance and largely undrawn credit facilities."
HARRYCAT
- 12 Jan 2016 08:34
- 306 of 364
StockMarketWire.com
Faroe Petroleum, the independent oil and gas company focusing principally on exploration, appraisal and production opportunities in Norway and the UK, has announced the start of the Kvalross exploration well 7224/2-1 (Faroe 40%). Licence PL611, which contains the Kvalross prospect, is located in the Norwegian Barents Sea to the south of OMV's significant Wisting and Hanssen oil discoveries.
The well will test two independent targets, namely: the Kvalross prospect with significant oil and gas resource potential within Lower Triassic Klappmyss Formation clinoform reservoir; and the Kvaltann prospect which has additional oil potential within a Mid-Late Triassic Snadd Formation channel. Licence PL611 was awarded to Faroe in May 2011 in the Norwegian 21st Licensing Round together with co-venturers Wintershall Norge AS (40% and operator) and Petoro AS (20%). The Kvalross well is being drilled using the Transocean Arctic drilling rig and the results will be announced when drilling operations are complete.
Chief executive Graham Stewart said: "We are very pleased to announce the spudding of the Kvalross well which is the first of three exploration wells in Faroe's drilling programme for 2016 in Norway. This well will test two independent structures in a highly prospective area in the Norwegian Barents Sea. Kvalross is on trend with and just to the South of OMV's significant Wisting and Hanssen discoveries and will use the same rig as was used to make the Pil and Bue discoveries last year. "Faroe enters 2016 in robust financial health, with strong production, a solid cash position and largely un-utilised credit facilities, as we continue to evaluate the potential to take advantage of further good quality growth opportunities."
skinny
- 17 Jan 2016 14:20
- 307 of 364
HARRYCAT
- 20 Jan 2016 08:02
- 308 of 364
StockMarketWire.com
Faroe Petroleum has been awarded six new prospective exploration licences, including two operatorships, under the 2015 Norwegian APA (Awards in Pre-defined Areas) Licence Round on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
The company has been awarded three new licences in the Norwegian Sea area:
- Licence PL836S Yoshi - Blocks 6406/2,3 below Cretaceous: Faroe (30%), Wintershall Norge AS (40% and operator), Centrica Resources (Norge) AS (30%).
- Licence PL845 Groney High - Blocks 6609/6, 6610/4,5,6: Faroe (20%), ConocoPhilips Skandinavia AS (40% and operator), Wintershall Norge AS (20%) and Dong E&P Norge AS (20%).
- Licence PL644B Aerosmith licence extension - Blocks 6506/11: Faroe (20%), OMV (Norge) AS (30% and operator), Repsol Exploration Norge AS (20%), Skagen 44 AS (20%) and Centrica Resources (Norge) AS (10%).
And it has been awarded three new licences in the Norwegian North Sea area:
- Licence PL810 Katie - Blocks 2/1, 7/12, 8/10: Faroe (40% and operator), Centrica Resources (Norge) AS (30%), Wellesley Petroleum AS (30%).
- Licence PL811 Gullaxy - Blocks 7/9,12 8/7,10: Faroe (20%), Centrica Resources (Norge) AS (40% and operator), Tullow Oil Norge AS (20%) and Origo Exploration Norway AS (20%).
- Licence PL825 Rungne - Blocks 30/3,6: Faroe (40% and operator), Fortis Petroleum Norge AS (30%) and Centrica Resources (Norge) AS (30%).
Chief executive Graham Stewart said: "Faroe has again been very successful in its licence application strategy, winning a further six licences in the latest Norwegian licensing round which add further upside potential to our portfolio. Significantly, we have further consolidated our position in core areas of the Norwegian continental shelf in which we have enjoyed recent exploration success, enhancing our acreage positions near and around the greater Njord Areas and the Butch development project. At this stage no well commitments have been offered and should we and our partners progress these toward exploration drilling, Faroe continues to benefit from the Norwegian tax system whereby 78% of all exploration related expenditure is eligible for a tax rebate in the following year.
"Faroe has a material and exciting drilling programme in 2016; we are currently drilling the Kvalross exploration well in the Barents Sea and have two further firm wells in the Norwegian Sea later in the year. Coupled with strong production, a solid cash position and largely un-utilised credit facilities we are confident in our ability to take advantage of opportunities which the current depressed oil price environment presents."
HARRYCAT
- 05 Feb 2016 08:56
- 309 of 364
StockMarketWire.com
Faroe Petroleum's total average economic production for 2015 was at the upper end of guidance at approximately 10,530 barrels of oil equivalent per day, of which approximately 58% was liquids and 42% gas.
The main fields in Faroe's portfolio performed above expectations in 2015, which led to the upward adjustment of production guidance announced in November 2015
Faroe says 2015 was another year of growth and good progress for the company despite a backdrop of significantly lower commodity prices.
Chief executive Graham Stewart says: "e delivered our exploration drilling programme safely and under budget, adding further 2C resources, and we doubled our 2P reserves in high quality assets. Our diverse North Sea production portfolio also outperformed expectation, averaging 10,530 boepd with low unit operating costs, and we ended the year with a significant cash position of over £90m and a largely undrawn debt facility. "Looking ahead at 2016, we are well prepared to face the challenges of a continuing period of low commodity prices, while seeking to capitalise on our strong financial position to pursue consolidation opportunities in our core areas on the UK and Norwegian continental shelves."
Production:
* Two new infill wells in Brage (Faroe 14.26%) were successfully brought on stream adding new production capacity and contributing to a reduction in unit operating costs. The next drilling campaign at the Brage field is expected to commence in 2017
* The acquisition of interests in the Blane and Enoch fields was completed in November 2015 and boosted oil production and improved tax efficiency by accelerating the utilisation of carried forward tax losses
* In January 2016, Faroe produced on average approximately 10,000 boepd. Average full year 2016 production is forecast to be in the range of 7,000-9,000 boepd from all fields, which includes production from the Njord and Hyme fields until the end of May 2016, in accordance with plans for the Njord Future Project. Production in 2016 is expected to be split approximately 55% liquids and 45% gas
* Average opex per boe in 2015 was approximately $23/boe. Opex per boe in 2016 expected to be $27/boe reflecting lower average production levels
* Faroe continues to seek suitable value-enhancing production acquisitions, taking advantage of consolidation opportunities.
HARRYCAT
- 24 Feb 2016 09:11
- 310 of 364
StockMarketWire.com
Faroe Petroleum reports disappointing results from the Kvalross exploration well in the Barents Sea .
But Faroe - which has a 40% interest in the Wintershall-operated well- said good quality sands were encountered in the Kvaltann prospect but were found to be water wet. In the main Kvalross target hydrocarbon shows were observed, but not in good quality reservoirs. No commercial discovery has been made.
The well will be plugged and abandoned.
Chief executive Graham Stewart said: "Whilst the results for the Barents Sea Kvalross well are disappointing, we are pleased that the well has been drilled significantly below budget and to have encountered hydrocarbon shows which will add to the large data bank we now hold over this prospective frontier area. We look forward now to the next two exploration wells in our programme. The near-field Brasse well in the Norwegian North Sea and the Njord North Flank well in the Norwegian Sea are scheduled to be drilled in the summer and second half of 2016 respectively.
"Faroe has built a strong portfolio position in Norway, where exploration benefits materially from tax rebates provided by the state to support and encourage exploration in the country.
"In the meantime Faroe's strong balance sheet means we are well prepared to weather the continuing period of low commodity prices, and are seeking to capitalise on our position to pursue consolidation opportunities in our core areas on the UK and Norwegian continental shelves."
HARRYCAT
- 29 Mar 2016 09:24
- 311 of 364
StockMarketWire.com
Faroe Petroleum's main fields exceeded forecasts in the year to the end of December but revenues fell due to lower commodity prices.
Total average economic production rose to 10,530 barrels of oil equivalent per day (2014: 9,106 boepd) but revenue (excluding hedging gains) fell to GBP113.0 million (2014: GBP28.8 million).
EBITDAX rose to 60.4 million (2014: GBP59.1 million). This includes realised hedging gains of GBP9.3 million (2014: GBP0.5 million). General and administrative expenses were reduced and the loss after tax fell to GBP52.9 million (2014: GBP55.0 million) after pre-tax impairment charges of GBP45.1 million (2014: GBP38.5 million) and exploration write-offs of GBP83.6 million (2014: GBP131.7 million).
Chief executive Graham Stewart said: "2015 was another year of growth and good progress for Faroe despite a backdrop of significantly lower commodity prices. We delivered our exploration drilling programme safely and under budget, adding further material 2C resources, and doubled our 2P reserves in high quality assets, principally in Norway. Our diverse North Sea production portfolio also outperformed expectations, averaging 10,530 boepd with lower unit operating costs of $23 per boe, down by 30% from the previous year.
"We stated a year ago that we would aim to run a cash-neutral budget for 2015 and we are pleased to end the year with cash of £91.5 million (2014: £92.6 million) after drilling five exploration wells and acquiring further interests in the Blane and Enoch production assets in the UK. This outcome is testament to the quality of our portfolio and our consistently prudent financial management, in what remains a very difficult market.
"Looking ahead to 2016, the business is in a good position to face the continuing challenges of our industry and to seek to capitalise on our relative financial strength as we pursue attractive consolidation opportunities in our core areas on the UK and Norwegian continental shelves."
HARRYCAT
- 24 May 2016 07:59
- 312 of 364
StockMarketWire.com
Faroe Petroleum has confirmed that drilling has started on the Brasse exploration well 31/7-1 in the Norwegian North Sea.
Faroe is operator and has a 50% interest.
The Brasse prospect is located immediately south of the producing Brage oil field (Faroe 14.3%) and, if successful, could be tied-back to the Brage facilities or alternatively to other nearby installations.
The well will target the Jurassic aged sandstones in a four-way dip-closed structure with a total vertical depth of approximately 2,750 metres in the Early Jurassic Statfjord Formation.
The water depth at the site is 118 metres and the well will be drilled using the semi-submersible Transocean Arctic drilling rig. The co-venturer in the PL740 licence is Core Energy AS (50%). Chief executive Graham Stewart said: "I am pleased to announce the spudding of the Faroe-operated, Brasse exploration well located in close proximity to our producing Brage oil field. This is a near field exploration target which provides significant upside potential to Faroe, in one of our core areas. On a post-tax basis the well is expected to cost Faroe less than £2 million."
HARRYCAT
- 11 Jul 2016 16:41
- 313 of 364
StockMarketWire.com
Faroe Petroleum has completed a successful side-track appraisal well on the Brasse discovery in licence PL740 in the Norwegian North Sea (Faroe 50% and operator). The objective of the Brasse side-track well (31/7-1A) was to appraise the south-eastern part of the hydrocarbon bearing structure previously identified by the main discovery well. The Brasse side-track reached a total depth of 2,530 metres (MD) and encountered a 25 metre gross oil column and a 6 metre gross gas column.
Results based on extensive coring, wireline logging and sampling show that the well has encountered oil and gas in good quality Jurassic reservoir sandstones, similar to those seen in the main well, and provide important information about the reservoir distribution in Brasse.
The hydrocarbon-bearing interval in the side-track well was found to be at a similar pressure level to the hydrocarbon-bearing interval in the initial discovery well. Total gross volumes of recoverable hydrocarbons are estimated to be 28-54 mmbbls of oil and 89-158 bcf of gas (43-80 mmboe in aggregate). As already announced, the Brasse discovery well (31/7-1) encountered approximately 21 metres of gross oil-bearing and approximately 18 metres of gross gas-bearing Jurassic reservoir. The reservoir is of good quality and believed to be analogous to the effective reservoir at the Brage producing oil field (Faroe 14.3%). The Brasse discovery is located within tie-back distance to existing infrastructure: 13 kilometres to the south of the Brage field platform, in which the Company holds a 14.3% working interest, 13 kilometres to the east of the Oseberg Sor field platform, and 13 kilometres to the south east of the Oseberg field platform. Faroe and its co-venturer (Point Resources AS (50%)) will now begin assessing options for this discovery, located in one of Faroe's core areas in the Norwegian North Sea.
Chief executive Graham Stewart said: "We are very pleased to announce the results of this successful side-track appraisal well on the Brasse discovery, which proves the hydrocarbon and reservoir distribution found in the main discovery well and delineates the lateral extent of the discovered area. This discovery, in one of our core areas, builds, via this low cost exploration and appraisal well, on Faroe's already significant position in the Norwegian North Sea. Work will now begin on assessing options for monetising this important new asset, given its significant resource estimates and close proximity to existing infrastructure."
HARRYCAT
- 13 Jul 2016 08:51
- 314 of 364
Barclays Capital today reaffirms its equal weight investment rating on Faroe Petroleum PLC (LON:FPM) and raised its price target to 100p (from 85p).
HARRYCAT
- 15 Jul 2016 07:44
- 315 of 364
StockMarketWire.com
Faroe Petroleum (FPM) raised gross proceeds of £62 million at a price of 70p per share.
More than 88 million new shares in Faroe were placed.
The placed shares will represent, in aggregate, approximately 24.8% of Faroe's issued ordinary share capital immediately following admission.
The shares will, when issued, be credited as fully paid and rank pari passu with the existing shares, including the right to receive all future dividends and distributions declared, made or paid.
Faroe Petroleum chief executive Graham Stewart said: "I am delighted to announce the successful completion of this oversubscribed placing which has enabled us to acquire a high value portfolio of producing assets in one of our core strategic areas offshore Norway.
"As well as providing the funds for the acquisition, the placing proceeds will allow us to progress our recently announced Brasse discovery towards monetisation.
"I would like to thank our shareholders for their unerring support for our business and I would also like to welcome the new shareholders to the company.
"With the new funds in hand, coupled with our strong balance sheet and cash generative production portfolio, Faroe is now set on a pathway of becoming an independent E&P company of scale, with material upside potential both in terms of drill-bit leverage as well as the progression of our high quality discovered resource base towards commercialisation."
HARRYCAT
- 16 Aug 2016 16:08
- 316 of 364
StockMarketWire.com
Faroe Petroleum has announced the start of the Njord North Flank-2 exploration well 6407/7-9 S in the Norwegian Sea. (Faroe 7.5%).
The NF-2 prospect is located in Licence PL107C immediately north of the Njord field (Faroe 7.5%). The well will target Middle and Lower Jurassic sandstone reservoirs of the Ile and Tilje formations in a fault-bounded structural closure, with a TD in the Lower Jurassic �re Formation. If successful, NF-2 could add further reserves and value to the Njord Future Project. The NF-2 exploration well, located in approximately 323 metres of water, is operated by Statoil Petroleum AS (20%) using the Songa Delta drilling rig, with co-venturers ENGIE E&P Norge AS (40%), DEA E&P Norge AS (30%) and VNG Norge AS (2.5%). Results from the well will be announced when drilling operations have been completed.
Faroe Petroleum also announced that it has conditionally acquired interests in five Norwegian producing assets from DONG including a 20% interest in the Ula field and associated production hub infrastructure. One of the conditions of the acquisition was a 30 day pre-emption period under which the partner in the Ula Field could have acquired the Interest. This period has now expired and the Company will now proceed towards the completion of the acquisition as planned.
HARRYCAT
- 16 Sep 2016 11:43
- 317 of 364
Jefferies International today initiates coverage of Faroe Petroleum PLC (LON:FPM) with a buy investment rating and price target of 100p.
HARRYCAT
- 22 Nov 2016 08:19
- 318 of 364
Barclays Capital today reaffirms its equal weight investment rating on Faroe Petroleum PLC (LON:FPM) and raised its price target to 100p (from 85p)
HARRYCAT
- 20 Dec 2016 08:35
- 319 of 364
StockMarketWire.com
Faroe Petroleum has signed two banking facilities which, it says, will provide substantial finance to underpin the company's growth plans.
The two facilities are:
- US$250 million (approx. £200 million) reserve base lending facility. This facility is available to finance the relevant assets and approved capital expenditure, operating costs and acquisitions. In addition to the committed US$250 million, a further US$100 million is available on an uncommitted 'accordion' basis. This RBL has a 7-year final maturity (December 2023), with an amortising schedule from January 2020 and replaces Faroe's existing RBL facility which matures on 30 June 2018. The company currently has no loans drawn under the RBL facility.
- NOK1 billion (approx. £92.5 million) Norway exploration financing facility. This facility has the capability to finance the majority of Faroe's exploration and appraisal costs on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. In addition to the committed NOK1 billion, a further NOK0.5 billion is available on an uncommitted 'accordion' basis. The availability period of the facility is to 31 December 2019.
The facilities have been provided by BNP Paribas, BMO Capital Markets, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Danske Bank, DNB Bank, ING, Royal Bank of Scotland, SEB, SR-Bank and Wells Fargo. Rothschild and Pinsent Masons advised the Company and Watson Farley Williams advised the banks.
Chief executive Graham Stewart said: "We are very pleased to have concluded this financing exercise, and to have received such strong support from both our existing bank syndicate and new lenders. The new facilities provide us with substantial funding to support the continuing growth of the Group and the financing of our development assets.
"The combination of existing cash, these new credit facilities and cash flow from the Company's significantly enhanced portfolio of producing assets, ensures that we are funded to take advantage of the material development upside in our portfolio and continue to invest in our value enhancing exploration programme on the Norwegian continental shelf."
HARRYCAT
- 12 Jan 2017 08:24
- 320 of 364
StockMarketWire.com
Faroe Petroleum has announced the start of the Boné exploration well 7318/12-1 (Faroe 20%) and the decision to drill an appraisal well on the Brasse discovery in the 2017 drilling programme.
Licence PL716, which contains the Boné prospect (previously named Dazzler), is located in the western part of the Norwegian Barents Sea in a similar structural setting to the Johan Castberg discovery.
The primary targets for the well are the Jurassic Stø- and Nordmela sandstones with a secondary target within the Triassic Fruholmen and Snadd sandstone formations.
Licence PL716 was awarded to Faroe in June 2013 in the Norwegian 22nd Licensing Round together with co-venturers Eni Norge AS (30% and operator), Bayerngas Norge AS (20%), Petoro AS (20%) and Point Resources AS (10%). The Boné well is being drilled using the Scarabeo 8 drilling rig and the results will be announced when drilling operations are complete.
Faroe Petroleum also announced that the Licence PL740 partnership has committed to the drilling of an appraisal well on the Brasse discovery in mid-2017 (Faroe 50%).
Faroe as operator has entered into a contract with Odfjell Drilling for the use of the semi-submersible drilling rig, Deepsea Bergen, for the drilling operations. Faroe announced the Brasse oil and gas discovery in PL740 in July 2016. The main wellbore 31/7-1 encountered an 18 metre gross gas column and a 21 metre gross oil column, and the sidetrack well (31/7-1A) encountered a 6 metre gross gas column and 25 metre gross oil column, with both wells encountering good quality Jurassic reservoir.
Total gross volumes of recoverable hydrocarbons have been estimated by the Company to be 28-54 mmbbls of oil and 89-158 bcf of gas (43-80 mmboe gross in aggregate). The main objectives of the appraisal well are to reduce the uncertainty in the reserves estimates and to provide important additional information for the development project.
The Brasse discovery is located within tie-back distance to existing infrastructure: 13 kilometres to the south of the Brage field platform, in which the Company holds a 14.3% working interest and 13 kilometres to the south east of the Oseberg Field Centre.
Chief executive Graham Stewart said: "We are very pleased to announce the spudding of Boné, our first exploration well in 2017, located 90 kilometres to the northwest of the Johan Castberg discovery. This high impact well will test a large horst structure with very significant volume potential.
"We are also pleased to announce the forthcoming appraisal well on the Brasse licence which will serve to mature this discovery towards development. Together with Point Resources we are progressing feasibility studies which will be ongoing in parallel with the appraisal project.
"2017 will be another significant year for Faroe. We have a very full programme ahead of us in our core areas including exploration, appraisal, infill drilling and early stage development activity. Coupled with our strong production profile, solid cash position and recently increased and substantially undrawn debt facilities, we look forward to another period of growth across the business."