DRILLING & EXPLORATION


Wells Report Reveals Significant Growth Opportunities Which Must Be Grasped


A disappointing total of 48 development wells were drilled and 12 exploration and appraisal wells completed in 2022, according to the Wells Insight Report, published by the North Sea Transition Authority on 12 October.


This is against a NSTA baseline ambition of 60 development wells drilled per year to help slow the ongoing


40 www.sosmagazine.biz October 2023


decline in production and assist in securing a greater proportion of domestically-produced hydrocarbons.


The drive for UK energy security was boosted with 334 mmboe of potential hydrocarbons discovered in the past three years, and it is important that appraisal and development of this possible resource is undertaken quickly in the drive to achieve secure domestic oil and gas production as the energy transition progresses.


Of the 48 wells completed, 40 are producers and eight water injectors. The total is down from the previous year in which 62 were completed, but the total development well spend of £1.23bn was only slightly less than the £1.33bn in 2021 indicating that average wellbore cost in the UKCS has risen.


The completed wells were mainly in the Central North Sea and Northern North Sea (CNS: 24 wells completed; NNS: 17 wells completed); with the Southern


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