Dove Energy Ltd has a 50% share in Block 17/4b with PA Resources (formerly Scotsdale Petroleum), the Operator. Block 17/4b is located in the Inner Moray Firth basin, in water depths of 150ft and covers an area of 191 sq km. The Group has purchased over 1100 line km of 2D seismic data, which has been reprocessed.

The main prospective feature on the blocks is a SW-NE orientated tilted fault-block of similar appearance and age to that which sets up the Beatrice Field. The reservoir target is the same Middle Jurassic sandstone that forms the main reservoir at Beatrice. The thick Upper Jurassic shales form an excellent top-seal. The up-dip lateral seal is provided by the main bounding fault which is en echelon with the Beatrice Field bounding fault; both faults share the rare property in the Inner Moray Firth of not being reactivated in post-Jurassic times, which has breached the majority of the significant fault-block structures.

The same waxy (17%), paraffinic 38º API gravity crude as discovered in the Beatrice Field is anticipated. This is derived from two sources, the Mid and Lower Jurassic shales, which are mature in the graben to the northeast and the Devonian shales which underlie much of the Inner Moray Firth area.

Blocks 17/4b and 17/3 are located in an area of the high environmental sensitivity and local inshore fishing interests. For Block 17/4b there is a period of concern for seismic surveys between January to April and November to December. Any activity will also require close liaison with the MoD because it lies within training ranges - the siting of any drilling rig or production platform would require their approval.

Any work programme would therefore seek to extract as much information as possible from the existing data. In addition, a full and thorough review of the critical issues would be carried out before any seismic or drilling activity so as to minimise disturbance to local interests and the ecosystem.