TIDMVPC 
 
RNS Number : 5017X 
Venture Production plc 
17 August 2009 
 

17 August 2009 
 
 
VENTURE PRODUCTION plc 
Whitbeck Gas Discovery 
Venture Production plc ('Venture'), the Aberdeen-based UK independent oil and 
gas company, today announces the discovery of gas on trend with the producing 
Bains field and 10 kilometres north east of the Morecambe South production 
complex in the East Irish Sea. 
 
 
The Whitbeck exploration well (110/3b-6A, Venture 70% and operator), which was 
spudded on 15 July 2009 using the Ensco 92 jack-up rig, has discovered a gas 
reservoir. The well reached a total measured depth ('MD') of 5787ft on 7 August 
2009 and encountered a gross gas column of 120ft within the Triassic Ormskirk 
Sandstone with a gas water contact at 5518ft MD. Down hole samples were taken to 
confirm the gas quality and the initial analysis indicates that it is within the 
pre-drill expectation range. The well has been suspended enabling it to either 
be completed as is or sidetracked as a future development well. A field 
development decision will be made following a full evaluation of the well 
results and the available export options. 
 
 
Venture holds a 70% interest in the block containing the Whitbeck discovery 
having farmed-in to the acreage in March 2008. The exploration well was designed 
to test a Triassic Ormskirk Sandstone, the primary reservoir rock found in the 
East Irish Sea basin. 
 
 
At 31 March 2009, in its total proven and probable reserves of 240 MMboe, 
Venture had no booked reserves associated with Whitbeck. 
 
 
Commenting on the news, Mike Wagstaff, Chief Executive said: 
 
 
"Whitbeck is another gas discovery from our 2009 drilling programme. At this 
stage it is classed as a technical discovery as commerciality is not yet proven. 
However, following on from the successful Marram appraisal well and also lying 
close to existing export infrastructure it does provide encouragement that 
further technical work may lead to the development of new production in this 
region. 
 
 
Venture has now completed its East Irish Sea drilling for this year. In our 
overall 2009 campaign we are delighted to have drilled five commercially 
successful wells out of seven so far and we are now focused on the Annabel East 
appraisal well which should deliver a result in late August." 
 
 
Ends 
 
 
 
Contacts: 
 
Mike Wagstaff, Chief Executive 
Jonathan Roger, Chief Operating Officer01224 619000 
 
 
Patrick Handley, Brunswick 020 7404 5959 
John MacDonald (Scottish Press)  07770 886912 
 
 
Notes to editors: 
 
 
  *  The Whitbeck discovery lies in block 110/3b in the East Irish Sea. 
  *  The block was awarded in the 24th Licensing Round under licence P1547. 
  *  Venture agreed a farm-in deal with Reach Exploration (UK) Limited in March 
  2008. 
 
 
 
This information is provided by RNS 
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange 
   END 
 
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