Deltic rides out the storm
The UKCS explorer’s strong balance sheet allows it to brush off many of the challenges posed by the oil price collapse, but it is still not immune to bearish investor sentiment
It has been a busy 12 months for Deltic Energy, not least with the introduction of a new name for the UK Aim-listed firm formerly known as Cluff Natural Resources. In August last year, it secured approval from the country’s Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) to complete the farm-out of a 50pc stake in its UK continental shelf (UKCS) P2437 licence, containing the Selene prospect, to Shell. This marked the second sale of a stake to the major in less than three months, after it sold 70pc in the Pensacola prospect to Shell at the end of May 2019. But this year’s oil and gas price plunges and Covid-19 pandemic have made life harder—both commercially and operationally—even for a firm at the pre-product
Also in this section
23 April 2026
The addition of an oil pipeline to the Power of Siberia 2 gas project could ensure deliveries of Russian oil to China, materially shorten logistics lines between West Siberia and final customers, and—amid disruption in the Strait of Hormuz—offer a land-based export route that reduces exposure to maritime chokepoints
23 April 2026
There is a clear push to bolster exports to Asia amid uncertainty around its North American neighbour, but there are limits to the benefits from the energy crisis
23 April 2026
Shell made the play-opening discovery in Namibia’s Orange basin back in 2022, but its next well could decide whether the project can actually be commercialised
22 April 2026
The failure of OMV Petrom’s keenly watched exploration campaign at Bulgaria’s Han Asparuh block highlights the Black Sea’s uneven track record, despite major successes like Neptun Deep and Sakarya






