Offshore staff
SALISBURY, UK -- Appraisal drilling on the Sea Lion discovery in the North Falkland offshore basin continues to deliver positive results, according to operator Rockhopper Exploration.
The semisub Ocean Guardian is drilling 14/10-6, the third appraisal well on license PL032, at a location 4.1 km (2.5 mi) west of the 14/10-2 discovery well.
Well 14/10-6 was designed to investigate reservoir and hydrocarbon presence within the mid-case Sea Lion mapped area. It is the first well to penetrate the Sea Lion main fan to the west of the mapped structural low that runs north/south through Sea Lion.
Rockhopper says the well has proven a thick, high-quality reservoir package and a substantial oil column.
Wireline logging operations have been completed. Mini DSTs were conducted within the main fan complex and oil flowed from the main fan. The results will be interpreted and integrated with other wireline logging data to provide an estimate of the potential well productivity.
The well will be P&A’d, with the results integrated into fasttrack seismic covering the southern portion of licences PL032 and PL033.
Rockhopper next intends to drill an exploration well 3.3 km (2.05 mi) northwest of the discovery well 14/10-2, outside of the Sea Lion discovery area. This well will investigate the presence of reservoir and hydrocarbon charge towards the northernmost currently mapped extent of the Sea Lion Main fan.
Sam Moody, CEO, said: “The results of this [latest] well are at the upper end of expectations for the Sea Lion main fan complex and we are delighted to see these oil charged sands extending to the west as prognosed. The thickness and quality of reservoir encountered in the lower fan complex gives additional potential updip.”
08/09/2011
Courtesy OKEA
Courtesy Aker BP
SOURCE: WESTWOOD RIGLOGIX
Courtesy PV Drilling
Courtesy Noble
