Egdon Resources plc (AIM: EDR, “Egdon”) is pleased to provide an update on the Biscathorpe Project in Lincolnshire Licence PEDL253 where the Company holds a 44.75% operated economic interest.

Highlights

• Economic modelling indicates a financially robust project even in the current oil price environment
• The principal Westphalian target has an estimated un-risked gross NPV(10) of £55.6 million
• Break-even full-cycle economics estimated to be (NPV(10)) US$18.07 per barrel of oil
• A 57 metre oil bearing section in the Dinantian Carbonate of Biscathrope-2 represents a secondary target with potentially significant commercial upside
• Future identified drill targets are accessible via a side-track of the suspended Biscathorpe-2 well.

Biscathorpe is located within the proven hydrocarbon fairway of the Humber Basin, on-trend with the Saltfleetby gasfield and Keddington oilfield (Egdon 45%) which produces oil from a Carboniferous Westphalian aged reservoir, the principal target at Biscathorpe.

The PEDL253 Joint Venture partnership has now completed extensive and detailed studies of the Biscathorpe project, including the reprocessing and remapping of 264 square kilometres of 3D seismic. This work has been integrated with the results of the Biscathorpe-2 well, resulting in a significantly improved understanding of the prospectivity in the Biscathorpe project area. The results of this substantial piece of work have concluded that a possible material and commercially viable hydrocarbon resource remains to be tested.

Accessible target areas have been identified, where evidence for a thickened Westphalian sandstone reservoir interval is evident on the reprocessed 3-D seismic. These areas can be targeted by a side-track of the existing Biscathorpe-2 well which was suspended following drilling operations in 2019.  The side-track will also target the oil column logged in the underlying Dinantian Carbonate in Biscathorpe-2, as detailed below.

The gross Mean Prospective Resources associated with the Westphalian target area are estimated by Egdon to be 3.95 million barrels of oil (mmbbls), with an upside case of 6.69 mmbbls.  Preliminary economic modelling demonstrates that the Westphalian target is economically robust in the current oil price environment with break-even full cycle economics estimated at US$18.07 per barrel and an NPV(10) valuation of £55.60 million.

The Westphalian objective was absent at the Biscathorpe-2 well location, however, a total of 57 metres of oil bearing, Dinantian Carbonate has been confirmed by petrophysical analysis. Hydrocarbon shows with background gas and sample fluorescence were recorded across the entire section from Top Dinantian Carbonate to the Total Depth (“TD”) of the well (an interval of over 150 metres). 

A geochemical analysis of the gas data and hydrocarbons extracted from drill cuttings was originally commissioned by Union Jack and carried out by Applied Petroleum Technology (UK) Limited (“APT”). The results of this analysis show a hydrocarbon column of 33-34 degree API gravity oil comparable with nearby producing fields. 

An assessment of the Dinantian oil volumes indicates gross Mean Stock Tank Oil Initially in Place (“STOIIP”) of 24.3 mmbbls with an upside STOIIP case of 36 mmbbls.

Although the Dinantian is not considered to be the primary target, should there be effective permeability, or the presence of fractures within this section there is the possibility of a further commercially viable play being present within the Biscathorpe licence area that would add considerable resources upside over and above those associated with the principal target in the Westphalian reservoir.

Commenting, Mark Abbott, Managing Director of Egdon Resources plc, said:

“We are highly encouraged by the post-well evaluation of the Biscathorpe project area which has now benefited from an integrated assessment of the 2019 well data and reprocessed 3D seismic data. This work has concluded that a potentially material and commercially viable hydrocarbon resource remains to be tested.

Having retained the wellsite, the JV has maintained its optionality to pursue a cost effective side-track to test the resource potential of not only the Basal Westphalian Sandstone play but also to appraise the oil column demonstrated in the deeper Dinantian Carbonate reservoir.

I look forward to being able to update all stakeholders as we progress our plans for this potentially significant oil accumulation.”