Page 11 - EurOil Week 37 2021

EurOil PROJECTS & COMPANIES EurOil

Deltic kicks off North Sea survey

UK UK junior Deltic Energy is launching seismic “To be acquiring new 3D seismic so quickly
surveying at one of its North Sea licences after after announcing our transformational farm-out
Deltic recently farmed securing larger player Cairn Energy as a farm-in with Cairn is another very positive development
out the licences to partner last month. which will accelerate the development of our
Cairn. Deltic farmed out majority interests in five technical understanding of the opportunities on
gas prone licences to Cairn, in return for Cairn this licence,” Deltic CEO Graham Swindells said.
funding an agreed work programme at each “The acquisition of high quality modern 3D seis-
site up to the point of making a “drill or drop” mic over the licence area is a key step in de-risk-
decision. The plan included a seismic survey at ing future exploration drilling on this licence.”
licence P2428. Completion of the Cairn farm-out deals is
Deltic said last week it had been informed dependent on the pair entering into a joint oper-
by ION Geophysical that the vessel it had con- ating agreement and securing consent from the
tracted for the work had arrived on site, and Oil and Gas Authority (OGA). Once the trans-
that surveying would begin on September 11. actions are completed, Cairn will hold 60% inter-
Some 700 square km of 3D seismic data is set ests in P2428 and P2567, and 70% positions in
to be collected over the course of six to seven licences P2560, P2561 and P2562, with Deltic
weeks, focused on the licence’s main prospect, retaining the remaining equity shares.
Plymouth. The licences are situated in between the
The processed data is slated to be delivered in Breagh and the Tolmount gas fields in the south
the middle of next year. North Sea. ™

NEWS IN BRIEF

Slovenia to phase out we can receive around €240mn from the areas of green gas research, development
and cooperation to work towards
European Commission,” Vrtovec was cited
use of coal for power as saying. decarbonization and sustainability, Elering
said in a press release.
Sostanj uses 3mn tonnes of coal on
production by 2033 average per year for power production. and beyond, the climate targets would
The TSOs see that moving towards 2030
The plant is part of government-controlled
Slovenia’s Infrastructure Minister Jernej Holding Slovenske elektrarne (HSE). require joint research in the green gas area,
Vrtovec announced that the country plans to According to Eurostat, Slovenia was below a coordinated regulatory approach and close
end the use of coal for power production by the EU average in terms of its reduction cooperation in the technical field, while
2033, media reported on September 13. in CO2 emissions last year. Preliminary respecting the principle of safe and efficient
Vrtovec was speaking during his visit data show that the EU average was at 10%, use of the interconnected infrastructure.
to the northern Salek Valley to discuss the whereas Slovenia managed to cut CO2 The TSOs intend to cooperate in joint
future of local energy companies with their emissions by 6%. research regarding possible gas transmission
managements, including the largest thermal infrastructure decarbonisation solutions,
power plant TES. the integration of green gas solutions into
With installed power of 779 MW, TES Baltic, Finnish gas TSOs sign existing infrastructure, the development
generates, on average, a third of the energy of new infrastructure (when current
in the country with capacity to cover more memorandum on promoting infrastructure cannot ensure the technical
than half of the demand. Its latest unit 6 was requirements of green gases), cross-sectoral
launched in 2014. development of green gases integration, other technological processes
Vrtovec pointed out that TES made a loss and pilot projects. Joint research would be
of around €250m last year, and the price The gas transmission system operators the first step towards understanding the best
of CO2 coupons was close to €65, Delo (TSOs) of Finland, Estonia, Latvia and possible decarbonization solutions.
reported. Lithuania, Gasgrid Finland Oy, Elering Common efforts towards establishing
The minister said that gas could be an AS, JSC Conexus Baltic Grid and AB principles for coordinated regulatory
alternative energy source after the coal Amber Grid have signed a memorandum approach, for example, in the field of a
mining is abandoned. of understanding on promoting the harmonized guarantee of origin system or
“The infrastructure in TES is already in development of green gases. harmonized technical standards, would
place, there is enough knowledge, so I don’t Green gases – for example, biomethane, benefit the market participants in the whole
see any major problems in going into it,” synthetic methane or renewable hydrogen, – region, reducing administrative burdens,
Vrtovec was cited as saying. are gases that are produced from renewable incentivizing green gas development, and
He added that decisions must be made energy sources. Green gases contribute to at the same time ensuring safe and secure
quickly, by the end of the year, and by then a the diversification of renewable energies delivery of gas to the consumer. Where
law on the gradual closure of the mine must and the higher flexibility of the European possible, the TSOs commonly identify
be prepared and adopted. Union’s energy system. Considering the technical challenges or issues regarding
“2033 is the optimal year when we can goals of national energy and climate plans, hydrogen’s (or other green gases’) integration
provide sufficient financial resources for the the European Green Deal and by signing the into the gas transmission system and also
restructuring of the region. In the first phase, memorandum, the TSOs identified potential consider issues that may occur in the gas

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