Hansa Hydrocarbons Limited has acquired Serica Energy UK Limited’s entire working interests and operatorship in Blocks 48/16b and 48/16a resulting in Hansa holding a 100% working interest in both licences. Completion of the Block 48/16a assignment is subject to receipt of UK government consent.

Hansa farmed into Block 48/16b last year for a 35% working interest and participated in the drilling of the 48/16b-3z appraisal well earlier this year. The well was designed to appraise the Thoresby gas field (formerly known as Chablis) which was discovered in 2002 with the 48/16b-2 well. Well 48/16b-3z successfully encountered a gas-bearing interval with markedly better quality reservoir and hydrocarbon saturation than in the discovery well. The two wells also share a common gas-water contact, confirming continuity of the reservoir.

The Thoresby field is a large low-relief structure in the Leman sandstone which is the major gas-bearing reservoir across the prolific European Permian Basin. Proprietary work has shown that prior to development an improved depth conversion of the seismic data is required to better understand the extent of the gas accumulations over the area. Hansa is now undertaking a high resolution 2D seismic survey and a 3D seismic reprocessing project to provide an accurate depth image of the Leman sandstone reservoir to allow for field development planning in 2010.

Hansa also holds a 35% working interest in adjoining Block 48/17d.

John Martin, Hansa Hydrocarbon's CEO, said, The Thoresby field and surrounding area holds significant potential and we have now definded the technical work program that is required to take us to a development decision. Building on our interest in the Thoresby area was an excellent opportunity to create value from leveraging our existing position on the basis of our technical understanding. We are also delighted to have qualified as operator in the UK which is an important milestone in the growth of the company. Operatorship allows us to gain control over the work program and pace of progress as well as opening up the company to new opportunities".

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