Offshore staff

LONDON -- SOCO International has found sub-economic hydrocarbons with its latest exploration well off the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville).

The Makouala Marine-1 (MKM-1) well was spudded on Nov. 19 in the Marine XIV license. It encountered hydrocarbons in the T’chala, and Upper and Lower Sendji formation horizons.

The main target was the postsalt Sendji reservoir within a four-way dip closed structure. The well did intersect hydrocarbons in both the primary and secondary reservoir targets. However, analysis of wireline logs suggests reservoir sands were not as well developed as predicted, with insufficient pay thickness for commercial flow rates. The well is therefore being P&A’d.

12/27/2011