Rathlin Energy’s West Newton site in East Yorkshire, 18 February 2019. Photo: Pippa Hockey
Drilling a second well at Rathlin Energy’s exploration site in East Yorkshire is due to start next month, an investor in the project announced this morning.
Reabold Resources, which has a 37% stake in Rathlin, said a contract had been signed for the drilling rig to be used at West Newton, north of Hull.
In a statement to shareholders, Reabold said:
“Well spud expected in April 2019, designed to test two high-impact targets”
The well, to be called West Newton-A2, is intended to explore for gas in the Kirkham Abbey formation and oil in the Cadeby formation.
The statement estimated the chance of success at 72% for the gas and 24% for the oil.
Sachin Oza, joint chief executive of Reabold, said:
“Reabold is delighted that the appraisal drilling of West Newton has progressed so quickly since we made our investment to fund the well. Both the scale and location of the resource in East Yorkshire make it a highly strategic asset. We look forward to the drilling and testing of this well in the coming weeks.”
Reabold bought into Rathlin, at a cost of £3m, in November 2018. The deal was conditional on agreements which gave Union Jack Oil and Humber Oil & Gas a stake of 16.665% each in the West Newton exploration licence, PEDL183.
Rathlin Energy, which now has a 66.67% stake in PELD183, remains the operator of the licence. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Canadian company, Connaught Oil & Gas Ltd.
Brockham update
Angus Energy has announced it has signed a rig contract with P W Well Services Ltd for workover operations at its Brockham oil site in Surrey.
The company said in a statement that the rig was likely to be mobilised in mid-April.
The work is needed to identify and isolate a zone of water encountered during well tests and announced last month.
Jonathan Tidswell-Pretorius, Angus Energy’s operations director and former chairman, tweeted today: “Getting rather busy now! Last of the gear being shipped this week.”
Getting rather busy now! Last of the gear being shipped this week.
— Jonathan Tidswell-Pretorius (@JonathanTidswe1) March 25, 2019
He also tweeted: “To give you all an idea of costing, this operation with original experienced people will cost of third of last operation!! For uk onshore simple proven existing tech is best!! No reason to reinvent the wheel.”
To give you all an idea of costing, this operation with original experienced people will cost of third of last operation!!
For uk onshore simple proven existing tech is best! No reason to reinvent the wheel.— Jonathan Tidswell-Pretorius (@JonathanTidswe1) March 25, 2019
Categories: Industry
DRILL OR DROP? 
Common Angus!
P W Well Services Ltd….hummm
You should know them well Sherwulfe – they had a rig at Preese Hall in 2014.
http://www.pwwellservices.com/clients/
DOD must be short of news if awarding a contract makes it on the page.
The Managing Director is ex-Kenting Drilling so I have probably worked with him in the 1980’s. They were a good company.
Yes, a very interesting history, Paul….
Drill, drill and drill…
Should please John. He was moaning about drilling being a little slow on shore.
There you are John. More to come shortly. That should make you happy!
You have got to love the Guardian:
Yesterday:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/mar/25/coal-more-expensive-wind-solar-us-energy-study
Today (as predicted, sorry PhilC, Sherwulfe and Greta):
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/mar/26/global-coal-use-up-by-third-as-greenhouse-gas-emissions-rise
Greenhouse gas emissions from energy production rose strongly again last year, according to new data from the International Energy Agency, with a young fleet of coal-fired power plants in Asia accounting for a large proportion of the increase.
Energy demand grew at its fastest pace this decade, with a 2.3% increase globally driving rises in fossil fuel consumption. Coal use in power stations was up by nearly a third, and together gas and coal were responsible for nearly 70% of the growth in energy consumption, and while demand for solar and wind power also increased, it was by much less overall.
Gas consumption in the US leapt by 10%, or the equivalent of the UK’s entire gas consumption in a year. Fracking has been a key driver, and oil production in the US also grew, while the dismantling of government incentives intended to reduce reliance on fossil fuels has continued.
Asia is now responsible for the majority of coal-fired power generation globally, and the average age of power plants there is now just 12 years, meaning they have decades to go before reaching their planned end of production in about 30 to 50 years.
Heating and cooling accounted for a fifth of the increase in global energy demand – the cooling needed for many areas to cope with global warming is an increasing factor in the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, as temperatures in some regions rose to record levels as the result of climate change.
Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency, said last year had been a “golden” year for gas, which met nearly half of the growth in global demand for energy, but urged governments to take action that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“We have seen an extraordinary increase in global energy demand in 2018, growing at its fastest pace this decade,” he said. “Last year can also be considered another golden year for gas. But despite major growth in renewables, global emissions are still rising, demonstrating once again that more urgent action is needed on all fronts.”
It’s those expanding middle classes again……
Unearthed:
“Global carbon dioxide emissions hit record high: International Energy Agency finds demand for energy rises by a surprising 2.3% – with fossil fuels, and especially coal, filling much of the gap. China, the US and India had the biggest increases in emissions, while areas such as the EU and the UK saw emissions decline last year. ”
“Depressingly one of the main drivers was unusual weather linked to climate change. “It seems like a vicious cycle,” said Mr Birol, pointing out that in India air conditioning had become a big factor in power demand. “Heating and cooling are one of the biggest drivers of energy demand growth.”
“Coal set to be pricier than wind and solar: A new study has found around 75% of US coal plants produce power more expensively than renewables within the same geographical area, with industry out-competed on cost everywhere by 2025. ”
“One energy company told The Guardian “coal is on the way out”, the only thing is – with coal investments having cost often hundreds of millions of dollars, that may not be exactly how it works out. ”
“Mozambique floods cover more ground than 4 major US cities: Post-flood satellite images of Mozambique show that Cyclone Idai submerged about 835 square miles of homes and fields — an area larger than New York City, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Boston combined. Aid workers in Mozambique describe the floodwaters as “inland oceans extending for miles and miles.” The official death toll is now 761 and rising. ”
“The oil industry thinks that the huge level of access it enjoys with the Trump administration is – frankly – hilarious according to a new secret recording. “It’s really a new thing for us,” said Barry Russell, the CEO of the Independent Petroleum Association of America boasting of his meetings with Environmental Protection Agency chief at the time, Scott Pruitt, and the then-Interior Secretary, Ryan Zinke. “For example, next week I’m invited to the White House to talk about tax code. Last week we were talking to Secretary Pruitt, and in about two weeks we have a meeting with Secretary Zinke. So we have unprecedented access to people that are in these positions who are trying to help us, which is great.”
No doubt that exclusive oil and gas industry access and influence is even more pervasive in UK?
“Unfortunate things are happening to China’s wind industry – according to Bloomberg. As developers scramble to hit a subsidy deadline – reaching near record levels of new capacity – costs in the sector are rising sharply driving down profits. That said the capacity increases will, of course, drive more revenue in the long term. But it’s worth noting what happens when you try to build lots of something – even a cheap renewable like onshore wind – very quickly, problematic, as we kinda need to build these things very quickly. ”
“Wired reports that something strange is happening around climate change. Republicans are deciding it’s real. Three years ago, only 49 percent of Republicans thought so, but by last December it was 64 percent, as a Monmouth University poll found. Those who’ve studied this shift say it’s because of the recent waves of unsettling, climate-related news. The problem is now knocking on everyone’s front door: record-breaking heat and cold, ravaging hurricanes, rampaging wildfires in overdry forests. “It’s not distant,” says Anthony Leiserowitz, head of the Yale program.Wired calls it ‘peak indifference’. ”
Apparently not so simplistic or narrow focussed as the Guardian report is it?
Better to have a more balanced report isn’t it?
Otherwise some might suspect that isolating selected Guardian texts to favour one point of view is akin to attempting to “spin the nodding donkey”?
Perish the thought…..
No need to be sorry Paul, Martian, hewes62, Jim, SHJ, Francis et al?
Apparently truth is indeed stranger than fiction?
An interesting report by fully charged that amongst other things reports that oil and gas operators are generating renewable electricity for their activities, because oil and gas is just too expensive to use?
Renewable sources of energy are now cheaper than gas generation.
Oops!
Doing their bit to cut fugitive emissions. No brainer to use PV / battery on a remote location to save connecting to the electricity supply or installing a generator and associated infrastructure. Cheaper aslso because they get to sell the gas instead of burn it. Win win…
Exactly, Paul. They have the gall to think they can live like the rest of the middle classes! And, of course, they should all go back to being vegans. (Won’t happen-they will probably mop up the chlorinated chicken.)
I smiled at the comment around USA and fracking! Ermm-perhaps they need to look at consumption AND export for USA, with USA about to eclipse Saudi Arabia as the world’s largest exporter of oil.
So, Donald (not colluded) Trump, with his wall now being funded, should have a big smile on his cheese burger chomping chops.
Of course most wind generators are twenty to thirty years out of date, they depend upon old technology, they are massively inefficient and they regularly fail, burn out and their lifespen is only around three years and they kill birdlife.
But technology has the answer as usual, these innovations and non rare element hard to extract minerals such as cobalt are no longer needed, Nano carbon materials, and common element cathode and anode and solid core electrolytes are being developed, also the old three vane rotor blades are needlessly problematical, new innovations in rotors and slow wind speed generators that automatically close down in high wind speeds will revolutionise wind power generation.
The Tech That Could Fix One of Wind Power’s Biggest Problems
Introducing Harmony VAWT a brand new Vertical Axis Wind
Turbine
the best vertical windmill ever vawt
There are plenty of early models of vertical axis wind turbines scattered around the country, often on shopping centres, doing their “green bit” and not working. This is is definitely the way forward so if these work and are cost competitive we should see lots being being installed in the near future.
Cheaper simpler can be used in any situation can be placed in multiple arrays on existing towers on on rooftops, can be used domestically and commercially, works on low speed air, automatically brakes in higher wind speeds, ideal for all situations onshore and offshore, there are undersea versions being developed also.
Win win fo all, no cynical pessimism for the status quo (music optional) required.
Status Quo musical option quite appropriate for “Drill or drop”:
Status Quo for those who are still tilting at windmills….
“Tilting At The Mill”
This time it’s gonna be the big one
This time they’re gonna hit the roof
Tonight we’re gonna block the main gates
We got nothing to lose
This time there’s gonna be a fireball
This time there’s gonna be a flood
Just put your money where your mouth is
Want water or blood
Are we tilting at the mill?
Were we hurting fit to kill?
Sure we’re tilting at the mill
Just once we’re gonna do the right thing
Just once we’re going on a roll
This time I’m working down the dustpipe
Right out in the cold
Are we tilting at the mill?
Were we hurting fit to kill?
Sure we’re tilting at the mill
Are we tilting at the mill?
Were we hurting fit to kill?
Sure we’re tilting at the mill
There are things we can do for existing wind turbine generators too, the tips of the blades produce a strong vortex and that serves to put stress on the blades and reduces efficiency due to the turbulence. That also creates a downwind vortex that can interfere with subsequent wind generators downstream
http://file.scirp.org/Html/8-1770251_70227.htm
A toroidal shroud design, that encloses the tips of the blades and turns the deficit into a positive in that the toroidal shroud is designed to enhance the flow. Also if you notice, the birds that are killed are hit by the tip of the blade, and as that would be shrouded, the danger is at least reduced. The blades dont need to be as long or as heavy and up to four can be mounted on the same tower column, increasing the output by four.
Also battery technology is advancing by leaps and bounds, and may soon also revolutionise storage and domestic use taking a load off the centralised generating industry.
Battery Fueled by Iron and Water Could Transform the Power Grid
Redflow ZCell batteries | Fully Charged
Skeleton Ultra Capacitors | Fully Charged
The battery that could make mass solar and wind power viable | Dispatch
Solid State Batteries – has Goodenough nailed it again
Energy density is still the key problem. And there is currently no way around it….yet.
And of course, the largest evading point – it’s not only what we use, it’s how we use it, who is using it and for what essential purpose?
All your curve balls would drop from the ground if you tackle the core problem…..
Hi Sherwulfe, yes this “energy density” curveball is little more than a diversion i suspect,
https://everything.explained.today/Energy_density/
it is interesting that the Sun and the tides and the wind and geomagnetic cauldron of the Earth have a very high, if not unlimited “energy density” but are almost ignored in favour of extracting energy from the Earth that provided that “energy density” millions of years ago?
In fact the re is more “energy density” around us now as the Earth’s wobble returns us to spring, that there ever will be from hydrocarbonised detritus from countless millions of years ago?
But as usual, the monopolistic fossil fuel energy resources dependency at the exclusion of renewable resources has more to do with corrupt and incompetent political and financial and corporate recognition that we have a problem Huston and to actually DO something about the monopolistic reliance upon the fossil fuel tyrannosaurs running everything, whereas renewable and natural resources and anything else that could conceivably compete on an equal basis is run into the ground and stifled from support and financing.
But, as we all know, it will take more than present political inertia to do that. We see the almost frantic and desperate inertia here to divert away from the essential change of focus towards a saner way of living symbiotically with the Earth’s natural systems, and hope that one day we can catch the climate change degradation before it bites us in the dumb ass?
You have to wonder at the mindset that prefers such a suicidally destructive status quo (no music required) inertia that is guaranteed to plunge us into an irreversible climate change disaster, to a sane ecologically sustainable climate stabilising future based focus that is the only intelligent way ahead?
But i guess the corporate sheeple have been so brainwashed and fizzy cored out of anything rational other than pessimistic nihilism that they simply cannot see anything beyond their tiny remaining narrow vision total black out blinkers?
Too many Beanos on the overflowing plate and nothing readable in the tumbleweed strewn library perhaps?
In fact it apears the question is not energy density, such in a battery, but power density, as in a capacitor, two different things, a battery charges slowly and discharges slowly and maintains its discharge rate but deteriorates over time, eventually becoming unable to charge. A capacitor however charges very quickly and discharges very quickly but at a lower rate each time until it is spent, but then can be recharged very quickly.
The game changer seems to be graphene, which allows a battery to charge and discharge very quickly, so a combination of graphene capacitors charging from braking and accelerating combined with the next level of solid electrolyte batteries will revolutionise electric vehicles which still rely upon lithium iron batteries which have slow charging and slow discharging capabilities.
Fascinating innovations.
WORLD’S FIRST – SELF POWERED Q Beta Prototype with Silicon Crystal Graphite Powercells
Can This New Technology Make Batteries Obsolete?
Ahh, we have returned to the Beano Annual of what the future looks like!
Like the Beano Annual, a very few “concepts” will find a way into common usage. Meanwhile, hundreds of $Billions will still be spent on providing a gas infrastructure in India. Good news for the remaining tigers. Some of them may still have a little bit of forest left to live in.
There is no show without Paunch is there?
…….Billions and Billions and Billions and Billions and Billions and Billions and Billions and Billions and Billions and Billions and Billions and Billions and…..
What the company that NASA turn to for space travel technology have to say about solar power
https://www.inverse.com/article/34239-how-many-solar-panels-to-power-the-usa
UK shale. A complete financial and technical disaster.
Reblogged this on seachranaidhe1.