Brazil
Operator Repsol completed #1A Gávea in Brazil’s ultradeep presalt Block BM-C-33 in the Campos Basin. The well hit a hydrocarbon column of 175 m (574 ft) in a good-quality reservoir of silicified carbonates of Macabu. It was drilled to 6,230 m (20,440 ft) and was tested on a 32⁄64-in. choke flowing 453,069 cu. m (16 MMcf) of gas and 4 Mbbl/d of oil. This is the fourth appraisal well in the license, which comprises the Seat, Gávea and Pão de Açúcar discoveries. The #1A Gávea completes the appraisal drilling and testing in BM-C-33, and Repsol will now evaluate the subsurface data and assess development concepts. Repsol owns 35% of BM-C-33 with partners Statoil, 35%, and Petrobras, 30%. In third-quarter 2016 Statoil will take over as operator of the license.
Senegal
A new offshore Senegal gas field discovery was announced by Kosmos Energy at exploration well #1-Terangal in the Cayar Offshore Profond Block. The well was drilled in about 1,800 m (5,905 ft) of water to 4,485 m (14,714 ft) and hit 31 m (102 ft) of net gas pay in good-quality reservoir in Lower Cenomanian. According to the company, results confirm that an inboard gas fairway extends about 200 km (124 miles) from #1-Marsouin in Mauritania through the Greater Tortue area on the maritime boundary to #1-Teranga in Senegal. The estimated gross P-mean resource is about 707 Bcm (25 Tcf), and the company estimates the fairway might hold more than 1.4 Tcm (50 Tcf) of resource potential. Kosmos holds a 60% interest in #1-Teranga with Timis Corp. Ltd., 30%, and Societe des Petroles du Senegal, 10%.
Ireland
Providence Resources has confirmed that the Druid and Drombeg prospects in Ireland’s Celtic Sea could hold total cumulative in-place unrisked prospective resources of 5 Bbbl of oil. Prospective resource research indicates that both prospects in Ireland’s FEL214 permit area could be evaluated with a single vertical exploration well. Seismic interpretation indicates two large stacked deepwater fan systems with highly porous light oil-bearing sandstone reservoir systems. The Druid and Drombeg prospects are in Block FEL2/14 in 2,500 m (8,202 ft) of water. The block is operated by Providence with 80% interest in partnership with Sosina Exploration, holding the remaining 20%.
Italy
Sound Energy Plc has received permission from Italy’s Ministry of Economic Development to drill an exploration well on the Badile Prospect. The prospect is on the Badile Block in the Po Valley of Lombardy, Italy. The Badile Prospect is the company’s largest and most strategic asset. According to the company, an independent best-case estimate of unrisked gas is 5 Tcm (178 Tcfe). Sound Energy is the operator of the Badile Block with 100% interest.
Côte d’Ivoire
Anadarko Petroleum Corp. has struck light oil at exploration/appraisal well #5A-Paon in offshore Côte d’Ivoire Block CI-103 in the Gulf of Guinea. According to the company, the discovery was drilled in about 2,366 m (7,762 ft) of water and hit 30 m (100 ft) of net vertical pay. Total depth was about 5,090 m (16,699 ft). In 2012 the company’s #1-Paon discovery proved the Upper Cretaceous fan system in offshore Ghana extended into Côte d’Ivoire waters. Anadarko plans to drill sidetrack #3AR-Paon-3AR and perform drillstem and interference testing to determine reservoir connectivity, fluid properties and reservoir size. The rig will be moved to drill the Pelican exploration well in Block CI-527 and the Rossignol exploration well in Block CI-528. Anadarko owns an operated working interest in four blocks offshore Côte D’Ivoire totaling about 1 million gross acres. The CI-103 Block is operated by Anadarko with a 65% working interest. The company has 90% working interest in blocks CI-527, CI-528 and CI-529. The remaining interest is held by Petroci, the national oil company.
Angola
Sonangol announced additional results from an exploratory test in the Kwanza Basin in offshore Angola’s Block 20/15. Exploration well #1-Lontra confirmed commercially viable reserves of about 70.7 Bcm (2.5 Tcf) of gas and 139 MMbbl of condensate. The venture was drilled in 1,500 m (4,921 ft) of water and was drilled to 4,195 m (13,763 ft) and hit about 75 m (246 ft) of net pay in a high-quality reservoir section. Additional testing is planned. Sonangol is the operator of Block 20/15 and #1-Lontral with 100% interest.
Angola
Cobalt International Energy Inc. announced an offshore Angola condensate and gas discovery at #1-Zalophus, a presalt exploration well and the third discovery on Block 20. After completion, the rig will be moved to work on another presalt exploratory, #1-Golfinho in the same block: Analysis of the Golfinho well results indicates potential for another large mound feature with Cameia-like fluid and reservoir properties. Cobalt is the operator of Block 20 and the #1-Zalophus and #1-Golfi nho wells with 40% interest in partnership with Sonangol holding 30% and BP holding the remaining 30%.
Kenya
Tullow Oil Plc announced results from its ongoing assessment of the South Lokichar appraisal program in Kenya. The assessment indicates that there are up to 750 MMbbl of recoverable resources with further exploration potential of 1 Bbbl. The company intends to continue exploration in the Turkana Rift Basin to consolidate its recoverable oil before beginning oil exporting as planned in 2017. To date, nine discoveries have been made, including #1-Cheptuket in Block 12A. Previous discoveries include fi nds on the Etuko, Ewoi and Ekunyuk prospects in blocks 10BB and 13T. Tullow is the operator of Block 12A with 40% interest in partnership with Delonex Energy with 40% and Africa Oil Corp. with 20%.
Australia
Empire Oil and Gas NL has completed testing operations at its 100% owned #1-Red Gully North discovery in Australia’s Perth Basin Block EP389. The well was tested over three intervals within the gas-bearing Cattamarra C and D sands, which were interpreted to be gas-bearing. Testing at Cattamarra C interval fl owed 1,897 cu. m (67 Mcf) of gas and 15 bbl of condensate with 895 bbl of water during a 20-hr period. A separate test of the upper zone of Cattamarra D Sand was conducted using nitrogen lift and fl owed 1,113 cu. m (39.3 Mcf) of gas and 121 bbl/d of condensate. The well is currently shut in to obtain downhole pressure from the Upper D Sand.
Papua New Guinea
Repsol is underway at a wildcat in the Highlands Block PRL269 in Papua New Guinea. The #2-Strickland is west of Juna Field, and the venture’s objective is to test for hydrocarbons in a Darai Limestone reservoir. The onshore venture will test a four-way dip closed anticlinal trap. The planned depth is 890 m (2,920 ft). Repsol is the operator of PRL269 and #2-Strickland with 50% interest in partnership with Barracuda Ltd. (30%), Oil Search (10%) and Diamond Gas Foreland (10%).
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