Dotted around the area are a number of oil wells. One is just by the A3M roundabout at Junction 2 next to the Gales Distribution Depot with more in the woodland on the way to Rowlands Castle. These are owned by UK Oil & Gas Investments who are imminently about to apply for permission from the South Downs National Park Authority to carry out more drilling and a production test of a new well from an existing borehole.
The well is between the Horndean and Singleton Oil fields and when initially commissioned by Northern Petroleum had an anticipated supply of 35 million barrels with a maximum potential of 61 million at a depth of 1380m.
In 2010 when the site first started to be drilled the cost to extract meant that a price of $80 per barrel made it viable so it is interesting that they are drilling with a current price of $46 per barrel. UK Oil and Gas are looking to drill one horizontal appraisal well, up to three horizontal production wells and one water injection well with a production run of 20 years.
UK Oil and Gas Markwell Wood Statistics
The site is about 2 miles east of Finchdean in West Sussex and at a planning application has just been posted by the SDNPA. Comments can be made on the link below until the 17th October 2016.
SDNP/16/04679/CM | Appraisal and production of oil incorporating the drilling of one side track well from the existing well (for appraisal), three new hydrocarbon wells and one water injection well, and to allow the production of hydrocarbons from all four wells for a 20 year period. | Markwell’s Wood-I Well Site South Holt Farm Dean Lane End Forestside Rowlands Castle West Sussex
If you would like to comment on the application when it comes out please do so to the South Downs National Park Authority using the link above.