Houston-based Endeavour International Corp. has found “55 feet of gas on top of 22 feet of oil” in Cretaceous era sandstone rock of the Rochelle discovery off Britain.

The Block 15/27 find in the U.K. North Sea followed a successful "up-dip" appraisal of the Rochelle prospect. Canadian North Sea player Nexen is a 44-percent partner in a field that could yield 30 million barrels.

Despite drilling to a total depth of 10,369 feet, water was not encountered, so the find could yet yield more lucrative reservoir. Area rock was “24 percent” porous and “86-percent” saturated with oil and gas.

A statement said the reservoir was much better than predicted, and “The company intends to move quickly towards development.”

Rochelle is the first successful appraisal project planned, executed, and operated by Endeavour and showed faith in its in-house technical and commercial work.

“The Rochelle appraisal is an excellent example of maturing a fallow discovery toward development as envisaged by the regulatory authorities when they began seeking new entrants … earlier this decade,” said chief exec William Transier.

Rochelle “will breathe new life into our R Blocks area comprised of 15/27 and 15/28b, said Transier.

The field lies between the producing Goldeneye and Brodgar projects.

Tags: Endeavour International Corporation, Nexen Inc.