Aberdeen-based upstream firm Venture Production has struck commercial gas at the Carna field in the UK North Sea.

The company announced that the well, in which it has a 56 per cent unitised interest, encountered a gas column that is expected to flow at a gross rate of nine million cubic feet per day.

Venture has suspended the well temporarily while it considers export values and prepares to make a full evaluation of the reservoir.

"This is another excellent drilling result and a fresh exploration success which opens up
a new area of further prospectivity in a relatively underexplored part of the southern
North Sea," said company chief executive Mike Wagstaff.

In addition to its upstream operations, Venture Production also runs an annual graduate training programme for engineers, geologists, geophysicists and other professionals.

Venture Production positions itself as a "new generation" energy firm and offers its trainees the opportunity to work for a company that is nimble enough to make commercial gains from fields considered marginal by larger players in the oil and gas industry.

5th Global Education and Training event for Oil and Gas: Exploration and Production