Union Jack Oil PLC (LON:UJO) is now waiting on a date for its plans to restart testing the West Newton A-2 well, after a redesigned test programme was completed and sent to the UK regulator.
The British onshore explorer noted that the redesigned test now needs approval from regulators and project operator Rathlin Energy is working towards a greenlight.
UJO noted that the Health and Safety Executive's 21-day notification period has been satisfied with no objections, and, Rathlin has now filed a revised operating plan to the Environment Agency and after that it will go to the Oil and Gas Authority to get permission to restart well testing.
In August, the West Newton test programme was suspended as the discovery of an oil column warranted inspection - previously only gas was anticipated – and subsequently, a redesigned programme was put together.
READ: Union Jack Oil gets greenlight for Wressle oil field
Elsewhere in the project, Union Jack noted that it is preparing to start operations for the West Newton B-1 appraisal well where plans are independent to the West Newton A-2 well.
It is expected that operations will start in the second quarter of the year.
The partners have planning permission for two wells to be drilled at the West Newton B site – the first is intended to test the Kirkham Abbey formation, and the other will test the deeper Cadeby formation at what is believed to be an optimal location.
"All the results to date continue to support our belief that West Newton is a large-scale, conventional, onshore oil and gas development asset,” said David Bramhill, UJO executive chairman.
"We remain on track in our pursuit to obtain final regulatory approval for the recommencement of the EWT at West Newton A-2. Comfort can be gained by the fact that no objections were raised by the HSE during its review. Union Jack expects that the EA determination will require 4 - 6 weeks to facilitate.
"Progress continues to be made in respect of the appraisal programme, particularly, the drilling of the West Newton B-1 well.”
Bramhill added: "Union Jack has already met its financial commitments in respect of funding the EWT on West Newton A-2 and, with cash resources in excess of £6.5 million, we are more than adequately funded for the drilling and testing of the West Newton B-1 well and the EWT on the B-2 well.”
"Outside of the West Newton work programme, we are also funded for our other committed projects in our portfolio in respect of our 2020 work programme where activity is dominated by the development of the Wressle discovery, where planning consent for the development was granted in January 2020, and also includes appraisal activity at Biscathorpe.”