Northern Petroleum Kicks Off Po Valley Drilling

Northern Petroleum has begun operations in Italy's gas-rich Po Valley with the drilling of the La Tosca-1 evaluation well.

The company say today that it is targeting a 43 billion cubic feet of gross mean prospective resource gas prospect within the Eastern Po Valley Basin in Italy. The La Tosca prospect is located in close proximity to the Alfonsine gas field. Other gas and gas-condensate fields close-by are the Ravenna, , San Potito, Cotignola, Dosso degli Angeli and Baldina fields. The evaluation area is held under the company's Longastrino Permit.

Northern is targeting the prospect based on 3D seismic undertaken on the prospect and expects drilling of the well to take up to 40 days. Drilling will be carried out by the HDI Leonardo Drillmec HH220 rig. Operations will be undertaken together with joint venture partner on the field, Orca Exploration, with both sharing the cost of the evaluation.

Northern said today that it would evaluate the prospect with a view to determine the exploration potential of the prospect.

"'Northern looks forward to working with its partner Orca in the drilling of the La Tosca well," Managing Director of Northern Petroleum Derek Musgrove said today.