According to BSP’s head of Near Field Exploration, Haji Azhar bin Haji Yahya, “The well found approximately 400 metres of net gas and oil bearing sands of better reservoir quality than expected.”

The well in question was drilled in 8 metres of water by Schlumberger’s self-propelled multi-purpose vessel, the BIMA.

In a statement BSP MD Mark Carne said, “We regard this as a very important discovery because there are up to 20 similar structures in this area. If this success is replicated we estimate total recoverable oil of up to 100 million barrels from the whole of the Seria North Flank.”

“The combination of today’s announced discovery and the success of the fish hook well combine to offer an exciting future for the Seria Field. Using fish hook wells we will be able to develop part of the offshore Seria North Flank from a drilling rig located onshore, thereby maximising the use of existing infrastructure and facilities.

“This shows that despite the maturity of Seria, our innovative engineers are breathing new life into the field,” added Carne. On the matter of the “fish hook”, Carne was revering to BSP’s record-breaking well which “U” shaped followed “an uphill section of the underground strata to reach the target oil sands”.

Based on this find, according to Carne, the firm will now fast-track further E&P operations in the field. It intends to book additional reserves as and when “technically and economically matured project plans are approved”.