UK Oil & Gas (UKOG) has spudded the first of two planned horizontal wells into the Portland formation at its Horse Hill discovery onshore southern England as it prepares to launch full production later this year.

The HH-2/2z probe spudded on Sunday morning is expected to deliver a “significantly higher” flow rate than the earlier HH-1 discovery well in Portland reservoir that delivered 362 barrels per day of oil, the London-listed operator said in a statement.

The well will have a total length of 5800 feet from surface, including a pilot hole to be drilled to a depth of 2000 feet, with a horizontal section of around 3200 feet penetrating the reservoir’s most productive oil zone.

UKOG has now restarted test flows from the HH-1 well in the Kimmeridge formation at the field that were suspended while the rig was set up for the HH-2/2z hole that will also be flow tested once it is drilled.

The company aims to bring online long-term production from both the Portland and Kimmeridge oil pools underlying the Horse Hill field, located in the Weald basin near Gatwick Airport, by year-end.

UKOG now owns a 85.635% controlling interest in the field and surrounding licences PEDL137 and PEDL246 after acquiring former partner Tellurian’s 35% stake.

Field Development

UKOG in Horse Hill spud