The Zebedee well (14/15b-5) in PL004b discovered 25 m (81 ft) of net oil-bearing reservoir and 17 m (55 ft) of net gas-bearing reservoir in the Falkland Islands, Premier Oil said in a news release.

Premier has 36% equity in Zebedee, while Falklands Oil & Gas has 40% and Rockhopper, 24%.

The well penetrated multiple targets in the Cretaceous F2 and F3 formations with a total hydrocarbon net pay of 41 m (136 ft), the release said. The pay is primarily located within two F2 sands: the Hector sand, which contains 17 m (55 ft) of net gas pay, and the Zebedee sand, which contains 24 m (79 ft) of net oil pay. No oil-water contact was observed in Zebedee.

The reservoir at both the Hector and Zebedee intervals is of good quality and the above results are in line with prognosis, Premier said in the release. Good oil shows were recorded at the deeper F3 targets, but at this location the sands are not well developed.

The well will now be plugged and abandoned as a successful exploration well. The Eirik Raude rig will then drill the first exploration test of the Elaine/Isobel fan complex in the southern part of the North Falkland Basin with the Isobel Deep well, according to the release. The results of this well are expected in late April.