Hurricane claims ‘largest’ oilfield discovery on UKCS

Hurricane Energy CEO Robert Trice said these were "exciting times" for the company.

The find suggests that Hurricane’s Greater Lancaster Area (GLA) and Halifax well are actually a single accumulation, which includes a one kilometre hydrocarbon column at Halifax, the company said in a statement. 

Trice said: “We believe that the GLA is a single hydrocarbon accumulation, making it the largest undeveloped discovery on the UK Continental Shelf.”

According to the BBC, as many as one billion barrels of recoverable oil could be contained in the GLA, with production expected to begin in 2019.

Following discussion with trade body Oil & Gas UK, the Halifax well has been suspended to provide Hurricane Energy with the option of undertaking further testing, and establishing a “definitive” oil water contact.