GDF Suez and BP announce discovery of a new submarine oilfield in North Sea

GDF SUEZ E&P UK Ltd and BP today announced a new exploration discovery in the UK Central North Sea. The discovery, which spans GDF SUEZ operated block 30/1f (licence P1588) and BP operated block 30/1c (licence P363) was flow tested at a maximum rate of 5,350 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The well was drilled by GDF SUEZ E&P UK Ltd as operator, with the Transocean Galaxy II jack- up rig under a joint well agreement between the two licence groups.
Exploration well 30/1f-13AZ encountered hydrocarbons in a Palaeocene sandstone reservoir in block 30/1c (licence P363 operated by BP) and a subsequent side-track into block 30/1f confirmed the westerly extension of the discovery.
Equity interests in the P1588 licence are operator GDF SUEZ E&P UK Ltd (50.00%) and partners RWE DEA UK SNS Limited (27.78%) and Maersk Oil North Sea Limited (22.22%), while the ones in the P363 licence are oper ator BP Operating Company Ltd (50.00%) and partner Total E&P UK Ltd (50.00%).