First production flows from Waimea offshore Brazil for OGX

Feb. 1, 2012
OGX Petróleo e Gás has announced first oil with the beginning of the extended well test (EWT) in the Waimea accumulation.

Offshore staff

RIO DE JANEIRO – OGX Petróleo e Gás has announced first oil with the beginning of the extended well test (EWT) in the Waimea accumulation. Following the injection of chemical fluids in well OGX-26HP on Jan. 28, the well was opened for production on Jan. 31.

Over the coming weeks, OGX will test different flow rate levels, gradually reaching a stable production level of around 15,000 b/d. OGX expects to declare commerciality for Waimea after gathering conclusive reservoir data, which is expected during the first half of 2012.

After that, the company anticipates connecting two additional horizontal wells, which could take production levels to 40,000 – 50,000 b/d during the second half of the year.

OGX also has confirmed presalt microbiolite reservoirs with hydrocarbons in the shallow waters of Santos basin. As previously announced, the wildcat well 1-OGX-63-SPS, in BM-S-57, identified hydrocarbon both in the Aptian and Albian sections. OGX holds a 100% working interest in this block.

The OGX-63 well identified a hydrocarbon column of approximately 1,000 m (3,281 ft) with a net pay of approximately 110 m (361 ft) in the Albian section. The drilling reached the Aptian section, where it identified hydrocarbons through a high gas presence that resulted in a “kick” which OGX takes as indicating favorable permo-porosity characteristics and high pressure.

The ‘kick’ was controlled and the analysis of rock fragments confirmed a microbiolite reservoir of Aptian age -- the same type of reservoir rock found in the deep and ultra-deepwaters presalt of the Santos and Campos basins..

Due to the high pressures, drilling was suspended to replace the Ocean Quest rig with the Ocean Star, also part of OGX’s fleet.  The Ocean Star is equipped to continue the operation, which is expected to include logging and possibly conducting at least one drillstem test.

The OGX-63 well, known as “Fortaleza,” is in the BM-S-57 block 102 km (63 mi) off the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro at a water depth of approximately 155 m (509 ft).

2/1/2012

Courtesy OLT Offshore LNG Toscana
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