On 5 February 2018 Apache spudded exploration well 9/18a-40 using the WilPhoenix (S/S) targeting the Garten prospect. Garten is a downthrown structural closure north of Buckland in licence P103 (block 9/18a Area W). On 23 March 2018 Apache announced that the well encountered more than 213 m of net pay in high quality Jurassic sandstones. Recoverable reserves are expected to exceed 10 MMbo of light oil, which is at the high end of pre-drill estimates. The well was suspended on 4 April 2018 as a future producer tied back to the Beryl Alpha platform.  Apache has been exploring a number of Beryl near field exploration targets over the last few years. In 2015 it was successful with the Callater and Corona discoveries. Callater is now onstream and the company had further success with Callater SE in 2017. In 2016 the company had success with its Storr target where hydrocarbons were encountered in two separate fault blocks, in the Beryl and Nansen sands. In 2017 the company drilled a target situated stratigraphically above the Skene field (called Skene North) however, this was unsuccessful. Also in 2017 Apache drilled the Titan prospect and also spudded a well targeting the Val DâIsere prospect.  Interest in 9/18a Area W is held by Apache Beryl I limited (100% + operator).
009/18a-40 (Garten) op.by Apache (60,56%, Chryasor 39,44%) in P103, significant oil disc. located 6km south of the Beryl Alpha Platform. The discovery well targeted a downthrown structural closure and encountered more than 213m of net oil pay in stacked, high quality Jurassic-aged sst reservoirs. Recoverable resource is expected to exceed 10 MMbls of light oil.