UK-based energy major Shell has begun working on a geophysical site survey of the North Sea Selene prospect, which is one of the biggest structures in the Southern Gas Basin’s Leman Sandstone Fairway that has yet to be appraised.
Together with its partner Deltic Energy, Shell decided last year that it would move forward with plans to drill there as part of its P2347 licence. Deltic recently reported that it had received notification from Shell, which also makes food-grade lubricant products, that it had dispatched a vessel to perform the geophysical site survey. Graham Swindells, the chief executive of Deltic, said:
“The commencement of the site survey on Selene is another important step on the path to drilling this high-impact, low-risk prospect in the Southern North Sea.”
The survey, which is expected to be finished by the end of August, will provide high-resolution seismic data about the area, and this will guide Shell in locating and placing the drilling rig. According to project documentation from Deltic, enabling works should begin towards the end of this year, while Swindells also mentioned that drilling operations are set to begin in mid-2024.
Selene is located near Shell’s recent Pensacola play, which recently had its estimate for the total amount of recoverable oil and gas reserves doubled, with the next estimate including gas reserves of 320 billion cubic feet. Subject to a 70% geological chance of succeeding, Deltic has come to a similar estimate of 318 billion cubic feet of gas for Selene.
