On 26 April 2019 Rathlin Energy spudded appraisal well L46/05-4 (West Newton A-2) on its West Newton discovery in PEDL 183. The well is located approximately 1.5 km south of the 2013 West Newton well. It targeted the Kirkham Abbey Shoal and Cadeby Reef formations for gas (contingent resources of 189 Bcf/g) and oil (prospective resources of 79.1 MMboe) respectively.Â  On 17 June 2019 partner Union Jack Oil announced that the well had encountered hydrocarbons (including a significant liquids component) across a 65 m (net) interval in the Kirkham Abbey Formation along with shows in the Cadeby Reef Formation. Drilling operations were concluded after reaching a TD of 2,061 m and production casing was run in preparation for testing which is planned for Q3 2019. The test is designed to establish flow rates and help determine the future development drilling programme. On 23 June 2019 it was understood that the drilling rig had left location.   Drilling was planned to take 6 - 12 weeks where the company was not planning to test any shale horizons estimated to be deeper than its Permian targets. It was hoped that the well would determine the commerciality of the discovery. In an update from the company on 17 June 2015 it confirmed that East Riding of Yorkshire Council had granted planning permission for the well. On 26 November 2015 Rathlin announced that it was pleased that the planning committee had unanimously approved the planning application for an extension at West Newton A. Following the well encountering gas the company is permitted to move forward with investigating the commerciality of the discovery within the Permian Kirkham Abbey Formation. On 26 July 2016 the OGA confirmed that the Environment Agency had granted a permit for the drilling of the well. On 15 November 2018 partner Union Jack announced that it had received approval to extend the existing planning permission for a further 36 months at its wellsite.  In 2013 Rathlin Energy drilled with West Newton 1 (A) well. The well was drilled to a TD of 3,150 m into the Dinantian Carbonate section in the Carboniferous and was tested. The well was located north of West Newton and east of Marton in the parish of Aldbrough, East Riding Yorkshire. It had a primary target based from 2D mapping and is a Permian aged Cadeby Carbonate reef. The source rock potential is present within the Permian basinal sediments, the Westphalian coal measures and the Bowland shale sequence. PEDL 183 was awarded in the 13th Onshore Licensing Round and covers an area of 913 sq km.  Interest in the licence is held by Rathlin Energy (UK) Limited (66.67% + operator), Humber Oil and Gas (16.665%) and Union Jack Oil Plc (16.665%).
West Newton A-2 appr. (Rathlin Egy 66, 67% op, Union Jack 16,67%, Humber O&G 16,67%) in PEDL 183 block, had been drilled to a TD=2061m and intersected both gas and liquids. Net 65m hc saturated interval was encountered within the primary Kirkham Abbey Fm which indicated âa substantial hc accumulationâ, hc shows had also been observed in the secondary target Cadeby Fm. with an oil saturated core. Preliminary data suggested a best estimate contingent resource of at least the pre-drill estimate of 189 Bcf, or 31,3 MMboe.