1

Stelinmatvic Industries Limited

Greenacre, Shoreditch, Taunton

Somerset TA3 7BL

Tel: 01823 275 975

28th ROUND OF UK OFFSHORE LICENSING

RELINQUISHMENT REPORT

FOR

LICENCE P2249

Block 47/5f

April 2017

SLMV

2

LOCATION:

Licence P2249 part-block 47/5f lies adjacent to the Hyde gas field in the U.K.

Southern North Sea.

Block 47/5f lies north of the Hyde gas field and south of the Outer Silverpit Fault.

The Hyde and West Sole gas field share a common structure with a thick

Rotliegendes sandstone reservoir. Although the sandstone is continuous the

structure has been compartmentalised by slip-strike faults. A promote licence was

obtained in the 28th Round to determine whether there was down dip potential

beyond another transcurrent dislocation.

Fig. 1 Location of Block47/5f

Stelinmatvic

Block 47/5f

3

SEISMIC and WELL CONTROL:

There are three overlapping 3D datasets covering most but not all of 47/5f.

(Fig.2) Loaded into a kingdom project revealed significant variations in data

quality and difficulty in any attempt to merge the separate surveys.

Published well data from the West Sole and Hyde fields was supplemented by

47/5-1, 2, 3 and traded data in blocks 48/1 & 2 all within the Sole Pit basin. These

demonstrated the basin-ward facies variations of the Lower Leman Sandstone

that control commercial prospectivity (Fig.3).

Fig. 2 3D data

sets loaded to

kingdom project

4

ROTLIEGENDES (Lower Leman Sandstone) RESERVOIR:

The classic four depositional facies – aeolian, sheet sands, fluvial and sabkha are

present in the West Sole and Hyde gas fields (BPs Winter & King, Abbotts 25

Year Commemorative Volume 1991). Northward deterioration of the reservoiSr

into 47/5f is apparent in the well correlation across the gas fields.

SOURCE ROCKS:

The source of natural gas in the surrounding fields is the Upper Westphalian

“Coal Measures”. This ubiquitous source ‘cooked’ as the Sole Pit depositional

basin deepened through the Triassic and Jurassic. Gas migration occurred during

the regional inversion of the basin in mid Tertiary times as the 47/5f – Hyde –

West Sole anticline was created.

Fig.3 Lwr Leman

Sandstone facies

distribution

5

SEAL:

Zechstein evaporites consistently cover the Lower Leman Sandstone Formation

and provide both an effective top seal and, in most cases, lateral seals at the

faulted edges of traps.

However, potential hydrocarbon indicators (HCIs) were observed within the

Zechstein, at Deckanhydrite/Plattendolomite level (Fig.4). These are associated

with Tertiary age faults, both normal and transcurrent, that offset the reservoir

and allowed leakage.

STRUCTURAL POTENTIAL:

The Carnelian Prospect (Fig. 5) is the only Rotliegendes structure on 47/5f. It is

a continuation of the Hyde–West Sole anticline with gentle dip to the northwest.

The overburden shows little variation such that the Time and Depth structure are

essential identical. The faulted southwest edge is the weak point. Here the fault

scissors upwards, causing the Carnelian structure to lie in a hanging wall.

Although the Zechstein halites remain thick and unbroken, the risk to effective

closure is strong. Third parties reviewing the data were dissuaded.

Figure 10

Plattendolomite

Bright Spot (HCI)

Fig.4 Possible

Gas leakage into

Plattendolomite

6

REASON FOR RELINQUISHMENT:

The Promote period for licence P2249 was during the nadir of exploration in the

UK North Sea. Major companies were downsizing both staff and budgets.

Stelinmatvic were only able to attract the interest of smaller companies, none of

which had funds to support a firm drilling commitment.

Note: Transform Faults

offsetting the West Sole –

Hyde – Carnelian anticline.

Note: Yellow area

on SW side of

Carnelian is higher

than the Prospect.

Leakage could occur

in this direction.

Block 47/5f

Fig. 5 Carnelian Prospect north of Hyde gas field