Offshore staff

HOUSTON -- The Forties Charlie 6-3 well has come onstream at a rate of 10,500 b/d of oil, according to Apache Corp. It is the seventh development well brought into production at Forties this year -- its initial production rate is the field's highest since 1994. The new wells are contributing to the field's current production of more than 70,000 b/d, the company says.

An eighth well, Forties Alpha 2-5, recently logged 115 ft (35 m) of high-quality pay in the Delta-Echo Channel and the Upper Main sands. The well is being completed and is expected to begin production around July 1.

"The Forties Charlie 6-3 confirmed Apache's analysis of 4D (time-lapse) seismic and reservoir engineering data, which highlighted the potential for similar stranded oil accumulations in close proximity to the Charlie platform,” says Rod Eichler, Apache's co-COO and president - International. “Three similar targets are among Apache's current inventory of 79 drilling targets at Forties.”

06/22/2009