Offshore staff
LONDON – Ophir Energy has terminated drilling operations on its first presalt deepwater well offshore Gabon.
The drillshipVantage Titanium Explorer drilled Padouck Deep-1 to a depth of 3,297 m (10,817 ft) TVDSS. The well encountered good-quality Cretaceous Gamba and Coniquet/Dentale reservoir sands.
Although there were no significant hydrocarbon shows in the targeted reservoir intervals, minor shows were interpreted at shallower intervals. This provides evidence of a working hydrocarbon system in the offshore North Gabon basin, Ophir claims.
Pre-drill, the main perceived risk was of seal and trap integrity. The company attributes the disappointing result to the absence of the anticipated thin salt drape over the high relief prospect, and the lack of sealing shales within the targeted reservoirs.
Vantage Titanium Explorer will now transfer to the Gnondo block to drill the Affanga Deep prospect, which could hold recoverable resources of 170 MMbbl. A good result could de-risk various follow-on prospects that might provide the basis for a hub development.
The rig will then drill the Okalapresalt prospect on the Mbeli block, where a thick salt section is interpreted above the target reservoir.
03/19/2014
