The future of the Wressle oil project remains in doubt following a decision by the UK planning inspectorate.
The inspector has rejected two appeals submitted by project operator Egdon Resources Plc (LON:EDR) which opposed two planning refusals by North Lincolnshire County Council’s Planning Committee.
READ: Europa Oil & Gas celebrates ‘record year’ for corporate activity
At the same time, however, the inspector also upheld Egdon’s appeal against the decision to refuse the application to retain the existing planning for the well site, which is retained until 28 April 2018.
In a statement, Wressle stakeholder Europa Oil & Gas (Holdings) Plc (LON:EOG) told investors: “The Joint Venture partners are considering in detail the reasons for the refusals as contained in the decision notice and will review the options available. A further update will be provided to the market in due course.”
Europa holds a 30% interest in Wressle, although a deal is in place to sell a 10% stake to Upland Resources Ltd (LON:UPL). Egdon owns 25%, Celtique Energie Petroleum has 33.33% while Union Jack Oil PLC (LON:UJO) owns 11.67%.
READ: UK set for ‘significant’ shale gas activity – Egdon Resources
Having discovered oil in a 2014 well, the partners had wanted to quickly develop the field, which would be a relatively small project, in order to establish an oil production operation that would have yielded a combined rate of around 500 barrels of oil per day from a number of intervals.