AFRICA

Taachui well hits gas offshore Tanzania

Ophir Energy has recorded a new gas find offshore Tanzania with the Taachui-1 ST1 well. Operated by BG Group, the Taachui-1 ST1 has encountered a 289-m (947-ft) gross gas column within a target Cretaceous reservoir with total net pay of 155 m (508 ft). The well was drilled with the Deepsea Metro 1 drillship close to the western boundary of Block 1. Estimates of the size of the find are up to 28 Bcm (1 Tcf). The well will be subject to a further drillstem test, and a further compartment identified to the west of Taachui has the potential to be of similar size. An appraisal well to confirm this is being considered by the block partners.

Tullow encounters oil in Kenya well

The Twiga-2 sidetrack encountered 62 m (203 ft) of net oil pay in the Auwerwer formation in Northern Kenya, Tullow Oil said in a press release. The initial wellbore was drilled near the basin-bounding fault and encountered 18 m (59 ft) of net oil pay within alluvial fan facies. A decision was made to sidetrack the well away from the fault to explore north of Twiga-1, and the discovery was made. The well is being deepened to evaluate the Lower Lokhone potential, and a testing program for this successful well is planned to be conducted later this year.

ASIA-PACIFIC

Premier discovers wet gas offshore Indonesia

The Singa Laut-1 well in the Tuna production-sharing contract area offshore Indonesia has penetrated 54 m (177 ft) of net gas-bearing reservoir-quality sands within the targeted Oligocene sequence, Premier Oil said in a news release. Gas gradients have been measured and gas samples recovered. The gas appears to be of similar quality to the liquids-rich gas found in the adjacent Kuda Laut well. The Singa Laut-1 well will be plugged and abandoned as a successful exploration well.

Searcher pursues surveys offshore Philippines

Searcher Seismic has plans to acquire two 2-D seismic surveys offshore the Philippines, one in the West Luzon Basin and the other in the East Palawan Basin, the company said in a news release. The Pinatubo survey in West Luzon will cover about 4,400 km (2,734 miles) and include coverage over blocks 8, 9, 10 and 11 for the fifth Philippine Energy Contracting Round. The Mialara multiclient 2-D seismic survey in the East Palawan Basin will cover 4,900 km (3,045 miles), including coverage over bid round blocks 4, 5 and 6.

RUSSIA CIS

Max hits hydrocarbons in Zhana Makat

Max Petroleum has reached a total vertical depth of 997 m (3,271 ft) with its ZMA-E7 development well in the Zhana Makat Field in Kazakhstan, encountering hydrocarbons in Jurassic sandstone reservoirs in line with expectations, according to a company news release. Max plans to complete the well and place it on production as soon as practicable.

MIDDLE EAST

MOL finds oil in Pakistan

MOL’s Ghauri joint venture (JV) has made a significant oil discovery in the Ghauri X-1 well located in the Punjab province of Pakistan, MOL said. The company said the potential for the Ghauri Block could be significant but that it was too early to give a forecast for the whole block. The JV is made up of Mari Petroleum Co. with 35% working interest as operator, Pakistan Petroleum Ltd. with 35% and MOL with 30%.

EUROPE

Cepheus well strikes gas in North Sea

GDF Suez has found a new gas resource in the southern U.K. North Sea on the Cepheus prospect. After drilling the 44/12a-6 Cepheus exploration well, the operator said a gas column was encountered within a Permian Lower Leman sandstone. Drilling commenced in early March, and the well was deviated northeast from the tophole location in Block 44/12a toward the target location. The site is near the GDF-operated Cygnus Field development, where new platforms are being installed. Drilling at Cepheus was operated by GDF and partnered by Centrica North Sea Gas and Bayerngas E&P.

Claxton lands riser contract offshore Norway

Claxton has been awarded a multiyear contract with Det norske oljeselskap ASA, the largest single riser contract in Claxton’s history, a news release said. Running from January 2014 until June 2020 with optional periods of 1+1 year, the contract includes high- and low-pressure risers, auxiliary equipment and services offshore Norway. The scope of work includes the procurement of high- and low-pressure surface risers for the Ivar Aasen field development; the rental of a Claxton 183/4-in., 7,000-psi subsea riser for the Hanz Field; the rental of 183/4-in., 15,000-psi high and 30-in. low-pressure surface risers for exploration wells on the Norwegian Continental Shelf; options for other field development projects; and HP/HT work during the contract period, the release said.

NORTH AMERICA

CQE acquires Canada gas assets

CQ Energy Canada Partnership (CQE), the joint venture between Centrica Plc and Qatar Petroleum International, has agreed to acquire a package of natural gas assets in the Foothills region of Alberta from Shell Canada Energy for about $46 million, a Centrica press release said. As part of the transaction Shell will receive CQE’s interest in the Burnt Timber gas processing plant and its interest in the Waterton undeveloped lands in southwest Alberta. CQE estimates that the assets to be acquired have 2P reserves of 2.6 Bcme (90 Bcfe).

Royale contracts rig for North Slope drilling

Royale Energy Inc. has entered into a contract for a drilling rig to drill its recently announced North Slope Alaska shale oil play and the large 3-D conventional target announced last week, Royale said in a press release. Kuukpik Drill will provide Rig Number 5 for the full 2014-2015 winter season to drill two wells designed to test both the conventional target and the shale sequence.

GULF OF MEXICO

Apache sells interest in GoM developments

The Gulf of Mexico (GoM) subsidiary of Apache Corp. will sell nonoperated interests in the Lucius and Heidelberg development projects and 11 primary-term deepwater exploration blocks to a subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. for $1.4 billion. The Lucius unit comprises Keathley Canyon blocks 874, 875, 918 and 919, and the company’s working interest is 11.7%. The Heidelberg unit includes Green Canyon blocks 859, 903, 904 and 948, and the company’s working interest is 12.5%. Apache’s working interest in the 11 GoM primary-term blocks ranges from 16.67% to 60%. None of the company’s producing operations are involved in this sale.

SOUTH AMERICA

ExxonMobil finds oil, gas in Vaca Muerta

ExxonMobil Corp.’s affiliate ExxonMobil Exploration Argentina jointly with Gas y Petroleo del Neuquen has discovered oil and gas in an unconventional shale well in Neuquen Province of Argentina, a company news release said. Located in the liquids-rich area of the Vaca Muerta play, the Bajo del Choique X-2 well was drilled to a total measured depth of approximately 4,570 m (15,000 ft). The horizontal leg of the well extends for 1,000 m (3,280 ft). The well was completed in the Vaca Muerta Formation and flowed at an average rate of 770 bbl/d of oil on a 12/64-in. choke in its first flow test. Data analysis and additional studies are being conducted to fully evaluate this discovery.

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