Block 110/8b Darwen North Prospect

Serica 100%

In December 2011, Serica was awarded a 100% interest in Block 110/8b, as part of the UK 26th Offshore Licensing Round. The block covers an area of approximately 186 square kilometres in the East Irish Sea. It lies south of the South Morecambe Gas Field and surrounds the Darwen Gas Field, both of which are operated by Centrica. The prospective reservoir is the Sherwood Sandstone of Triassic age that is also the producing reservoir in all of the gas fields within the East Irish Sea Basin.

Serica has mapped a prospect (“Darwen North”) that straddles the north-western boundary of Block 110/8b. The prospect comprises a fault and dip-closed structure that also exhibits a strong amplitude anomaly at the top of the Sherwood Sandstone. Similar amplitudes observed in surrounding fields (including Darwen and Calder) have been proven to be caused by the presence of gas-bearing porous reservoir sandstone. In addition to the Darwen North Prospect, a small oil discovery (110/8a-5) is located in the south-western corner of Block 110/8b. This is currently believed by Serica to be sub-commercial. However, the recent Conwy and Corfe oil discoveries in nearby Block 110/12 could have a positive impact in that should they prove to be commercial, they could provide a potential export route for oil in 110/8a-5 via the existing Douglas Oil Field production facility.