The Sean fields, Block 49/25a, UK North Sea

Abstract

Abstract Block 49/25a contains the Sean gas fields, Sean North, Sean South and Sean East – collectively known as the Greater Sean area and discovered in 1969. The fields are located in the Southern Gas Basin, about 15 km SE of the Indefatigable gas field. Approximately 1.1 tcf of gas is trapped in a series of fault-bounded dip closures consisting of Permian sandstones belonging to the Leman Sandstone Formation (Rotliegend Group). The reservoir is overlain by evaporites of the Late Permian Zechstein Group. The fields are characterized by excellent Leman reservoir quality, and resources have increased significantly over the years. The reservoir largely behaves as a well-connected tank, which has resulted in high recovery factors (>90%). In 2015, Oranje-Nassau Energie UK Ltd (ONE) took over operatorship of the field through purchasing the rights of both Shell and Esso, giving ONE a 50% operated interest together with SSE E&P UK Ltd (SSE). In 2017, an infill well (SSPD05) was drilled by ONE to test a pop-up structure situated between Sean North and Sean South. The well found, as expected, partially depleted reservoir but has proven to accelerate production and add incremental reserves to the field.