# Union Jack Oil updates on recompletion of the West Newton A-2 well

- Link: https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/union-jack-oil-updates-on-recompletion-of-the-west-newton-a-2-well/4121171585
- Published: 2024-09-24T07:14:54+01:00
- Author: Amilia Stone

**[Union Jack Oil](https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/company/union-jack-oil-plc/ujo.l)
plc **([LON: UJO](https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/company/union-jack-oil-plc/ujo.l),
OTCQB: UJOGF), a UK and USA focused onshore hydrocarbon, production, development,
exploration and investment company, has noted today’s announcement from Rathlin 
Energy U.K. Limited regarding the West Newton gas development project, located within
PEDL183, onshore UK in East Yorkshire.

Rathlin, operator of the licence, has been informed by the Environment Agency, that
its application on behalf of the Joint Venture partnership for the recompletion 
of the West Newton A-2 well has been ‘Duly Made’.

Union Jack holds a 16.665% interest in PEDL183.

**Highlights**

·    The recompletion is designed to overcome well bore damage that was sustained
during drilling and earlier drilling operations

·    This is a low-cost means of further derisking the sub-surface element of the
West Newton project and gathering data to input into the design of a horizontal 
production well

·    The West Newton domestic gas development opportunity will form part of the 
transition to a low-carbon footprint for the UK’s energy sector

For the recompletion of the West Newton A-2 well to proceed, Rathlin is required
to obtain consent from the North Sea Transition Authority and receive a permit from
the Environment Agency.

Union Jack is fully funded for the proposed recompletion.

The full text of Rathlin’s announcement can be found here:

**Rathlin Energy (UK) Ltd submits Environment Agency application to conduct a reservoir
stimulation**

In July this year, Rathlin Energy (UK) Ltd made an application to the Environment
Agency to conduct a reservoir stimulation within the conventional Kirkham Abbey 
gas reservoir in the existing West Newton A-2 well.

West Newton is a significant domestic gas development opportunity for the UK which
will provide economic and environmental benefits, compared to imports on which the
UK is becoming increasingly reliant.

The reservoir stimulation involves squeezing a small volume of oil-based fluid into
the formation to bypass any reservoir damage created during drilling, or by other
fluids previously used during well testing, and then using proppant to keep the 
pathways open to allow gas and hydrocarbon fluids to flow into the well at economic
rates.

The application has now been ‘duly made’ and the Environment Agency will review 
the detailed information submitted by Rathlin.

A similar operation, referred to as a proppant squeeze, was successfully conducted
in 2021 in Lincolnshire which resulted in a significant increase in production from
the existing well.

The proposed operation at West Newton is a smaller scale operation and will take
less than an hour to complete. Equipment needed will be similar to that previously
used on the site during testing operations.

If the Environment Agency deems it appropriate to issue a permit for the operation,
Rathlin understands that the Environment Agency will consult the public on the information
submitted prior to issuing any permit.

Consent is required from the NSTA to conduct the reservoir stimulation. The NSTA
will check that permissions from other relevant regulatory authorities are in place,
including appropriate environmental permits and planning permission as well as the
HSE being notified of the proposed operation.

The timeline for the proposed operation will be determined as soon as all necessary
regulatory consents are in place.

Oil and gas production in the UK is in decline. Projections show a continued fall
in production through to 2050.

More imports will be required to meet UK demand. In the case of gas, emissions associated
with the production and transport of LNG to the UK are up to four times higher than
domestically produced gas.

The UK has significant natural resources – up to 5 billion barrels of oil and gas,
a 60GW target for offshore wind, up to 78GT of carbon storage potential.

It has the pipeline, processing and energy infrastructure along with a world class
energy supply chain and world class people that bring it all together.

The West Newton domestic gas development opportunity will form part of the transition
to a low carbon domestic energy sector.

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