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North Sea Energy Unveils Results from Bagpuss Geochemistry Test

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North Sea Energy announces an update regarding the results of the Bagpuss Well 13/25-1.

Bagpuss Well Geochemistry Results:

A detailed geochemical study has been carried out by Applied Petroleum Technology ("APT") on a series of wet unwashed drill cuttings, drilling mud samples, and smears of oil recovered from several pieces of down hole testing equipment, all recovered from the Well drilled in the Inner Moray Firth area of the UK North Sea. The main conclusions arising from this study are that the oil discovered in the Bagpuss Prospect well is degraded heavy oil.

The estimated API oil range from the Well calculated by geochemistry consultants, APT was 19°-11° API based on the "dead oil" from the cuttings and oil smears. Their work indicated an overall oil quality of API of 12.5° and viscosity of 850 Cpt +- 150. Importantly, however, these values are estimates based on heavy oil field analogues as there was insufficient oil recovered to get direct measurements of API and viscosity.

The oil sampling program conducted by the Bagpuss operator, Premier Oil UK Limited on the Well did not result in a proper oil sample due to a number of factors. Oil sampling was attempted with a Saturn tool. Oil was observed in the grill of the Saturn probe as well as inside the pumps and some of this oily material was retrieved for analysis. A sample of water, that proved to be formation water, was collected from one of the Saturn tool stations believed to be in the oil leg. It was subsequently suggested that one reasons that a proper oil sample wasn't recovered was due a reaction with between the oil and the water-based mud forming an emulsion. During the sampling program, the XLD probe used was also plugged with drilling mud and there were problems with the Modular Formation Dynamics Tester sampling tool.

The presence of oil from the Saturn tool pictured below appeared to show 'live' oil and to be less viscous than the cuttings that were exposed to the drilling mud. APT speculated that "this may well be due to dissolved gas at the point in time when it came out of the hole. The ambient air temperature or tool temperature as it came out of the hole at the time may also have impacted the viscosity."