Results of a seven-day flow test program for the Balcombe-2z horizontal well in the U.K.’s Weald Basin have led Angus Energy to believe the Balcombe discovery is capable of producing at commercial rates.

During the test, the well naturally flowed at 853 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), excluding 22.5% water, the company said in a news release Oct. 2. The well flowed at 1,587 boe/d, excluding 6.6% water, during a second flow period. The well produced hydrocarbons from a Micrite Layer. Nitrogen was used during the test to help the well flow.

“The company believes based on the results of this 7-day flow test, it can isolate the water producing zone and establish commercial production under normal pumped production conditions,” Angus said in the release.

Angus said its testing team “believes a small high-pressure water zone was intersected in the horizontal section of the well.” Water production is believed to be through fractured communication, not from the main Kimmeridge Reservoir, the company said.

The Angus team attempted to identify the water zone by running a production logging string on coiled tubing, but the coiled tubing equipment failed after a second test resulting in a delay, Angus said. This resulted in only two flow tests being performed before the test had to end due to planning restrictions. All data collected is being analyzed.

“We are obviously pleased with the results of the Balcombe-2z flow test and encouraged as we take our next steps towards producing from the Kimmeridge layers in the near future at the Brockham Field,” Angus Energy Managing Director Paul Vonk said in the release.

The Balcombe Field discovery is a joint venture between Cuadrilla Balcomb Ltd. (56.25%), Lucas Bolney Ltd. (18.75%) and Angus Energy (25%).

Onshore