Hurricane Exploration provides the preliminary results of its Whirlwind exploration well, and provides an update regarding the Lancaster sidetrack.

Hurricane is an independent company focused on the exploration of fractured basement reservoirs which, although a global phenomenon, are yet to be proven as a commercial play type on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf. Hurricane's current exploration focus is to demonstrate the potential of this play in the West of Shetlands and in 2009 drilled its first basement prospect, Lancaster, discovering light oil.

This year's drilling campaign has revisited the Lancaster discovery and a second basement prospect, Whirlwind. Drilling results from both wells have firmed up the commercial potential of the Lancaster discovery and provided invaluable technical insight into the future drilling, formation evaluation and testing strategies of these prospects as well as Hurricane's oil-bearing prospect, Typhoon, also located in the West of Shetlands.

Hurricane is expected to have approximately £20 million in available funds after cessation of this summer's Lancaster and Whirlwind operations.

Whirlwind Exploration Well (205/21a-5) Whirlwind is located 12km to the north of Lancaster in the West of Shetlands. The mapped structural closure of the prospect covers some 40 square kilometres making it approximately twice the area of Lancaster. The objective of the well was to evaluate the hydrocarbon and reservoir potential of the Lewisian basement by drilling two basement fault zones identified within structural closure from seismic mapping. The well commenced on 22 August 2010 using the Borgsten Dolphin, a semi-submersible drilling rig owned and operated by Dolphin Drilling Limited. Owing to the current onset of winter weather, the well has been suspended and the drilling rig is being released.

The key highlights of the well are as follows: • The well penetrated 137m total vertical thickness (TVT) of fractured basement reservoir. • Wireline and drilling data indicate the basement reservoir to be fractured, particularly over the penetrated fault zone. • The potential for a hydrocarbon column within the basement is supported by gas chromatography and specifically gas peaks, depth consistent with identified fractured intervals. • Overlying the basement is 132m TVT of hydrocarbon-bearing fractured limestone. Sidewall cores and logging data indicate that although the limestone itself is non-porous, permeable fractures are present. Further work will be required to evaluate the reservoir potential of the limestone's fracture system. • The data so far acquired has given Hurricane sufficient encouragement to suspend the well with the objective of returning for further formation evaluation.

Dr Robert Trice reported from the rig, 'Whilst it is disappointing to have the operations curtailed by the onset of winter weather, Hurricane is delighted to have reached the current drilled depth this late in the year. This is particularly so given that Whirlwind is significantly deeper than Lancaster and is located in an area having limited basement penetrations.

Drilling and wireline data so far acquired from Whirlwind indicate the basement to be fractured and although the basement formation fluid could not be sampled, there are positive indicators from drilling data that hydrocarbons are present. These observations coupled with the presence of a thick hydrocarbon-bearing limestone formation on top of the basement have encouraged Hurricane to suspend the 205/21a-5 well for future evaluation'.

Tags: Hurricane Exploration plc.