RWE Dea's subsidiary in the United Kingdom, RWE Dea UK, reported that the first development well for the Clipper South gas field was spudded on February 8. First gas from Clipper South is expected in summer 2012.

The well (48/19a-C1) is targeting a tight Permian age Rotliegend reservoir at a depth of some 8,202 feet (2,500 meters) and is the first of up to five extended horizontal wells with multiple hydraulically induced fractures in each well.

"We are delighted to have achieved this key milestone in the development of Clipper South," said Ralf to Baben, Chief Operating Officer of RWE Dea AG.

"The platform was successfully installed last autumn and we now look forward to a successful drilling campaign using cutting-edge well technology. We believe our familiarity with this technology gives us the confidence to successfully apply it to the Southern North Sea," explains to Baben.

Tags: RWE Dea