Block 211/18b

Block 211/18b, to the west of the Thistle field (400 million barrels) was awarded on a Traditional licence application. It contains a major prospect, Leopard in an Upper Jurassic stratigraphic play. Although this Upper Jurassic play has not been actively pursued in the UK Northern North Sea, an analagous play is proven on the Norwegian side of the median line in the Borg field. The Leopard exploration well is partially farmed, and it is expected that drilling operations will commence on this prospect in H2, 2008

Block 211/22b

Block 211/22b, to the east of the Cormorant field (650 million barrels) hosted a large Upper and Middle Jurassic prospect named Jaguar which was tested by the 211/22b-5 well in the first half of 2006. This well was the first test of Elixir's Upper Jurassic play in the Northern North Sea. Although commercial hydrocarbon was not found at this location, the well did intercept residual oil in the Upper Jurassic. This led to a re-examination of prospectivity of the southern section of the licence and a review of the logs of a well drilled in the south of the licence in the 1970's. This review identified a 7m oil column in the well and further interpretation of 3D seismic data together with the success of the adjacent Causeway development has resulted in the mapping of a 20 million barrel oil discovery named Mulle in Block 211/22b.

The joint venture is considering appraisal options for Mulle and hope to be able to drill an appraisal well in 2008.