Maersk Oil Announces Gas Find in UK Central North Sea

28 January 2009

Maersk Oil North Sea UK Limited (Maersk Oil) successfully completed the High Pressure and High Temperature (HPHT) Culzean exploration well located in Block 22/25a in the UK Central North Sea on 2 December 2008. The well encountered a promising gas condensate column in reservoirs of Middle Jurassic to Triassic age. Evaluations are now ongoing to determine size of the gas volume, commerciality and possible development options.

Maersk Oil's interest (currently 66%) in block 22/25a was acquired from BP in 2004. Partners in the block are Nippon Oil (17%) and ENI (17%).

Commenting, Aberdeen-based Managing Director Kurt Normann Nielsen said, “The Culzean well presented significant technical challenges, including complex HPHT conditions. This is an example of how a technology driven approach can add new opportunities in the North Sea and we hope that our evaluation of this gas find will lead to a commercial field development''.