Hurricane Exploration Announces Completion of Testing Operations on Whirlwind

Hurricane Exploration plc (“Hurricane”), an oil exploration company focused on hydrocarbon resources in fractured basement reservoirs, announces that it has completed testing operations on the Whirlwind exploration well (205/21a-5) offshore UK, West of Shetland. The well is being suspended for future operations.

Hurricane first drilled the Whirlwind discovery well in 2010 encountering a potentially extensive gross oil column present in 132 metres true vertical thickness (TVT) of fractured limestone and 138 metres TVT of underlying fractured basement.

The Whirlwind re-entry was originally planned for a summer campaign. However, delays in delivery of the WilPhoenix drilling unit resulted in operations not commencing until 1 September 2011. As a consequence of the delay, the work programme was amended to take account of winter weather. The revised testing resulted in the recovery to surface of light volatile oil/ gas condensate. Drilling fluid losses and the recovery of hydrocarbons to surface indicate that the reservoir penetrated by the well is permeable and downhole pressure testing confirms the overpressured nature of the fractured reservoir.

Dr Robert Trice, Hurricane’s CEO, commented:

“I am particularly pleased with the Whirlwind operation. The discovery of light oil/condensate at Whirlwind is extremely good news as it is located in close proximity to our Lancaster basement discovery and further reinforces Hurricane’s presence in the West of Shetland. However, the true significance of Whirlwind to the region will have to wait until further evaluation of the data is completed followed by targeted appraisal drilling.”

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Source: Hurricane Exploration , November, 1.  2011;