Cheleken production targets new zone

Offshore staff

Dragon Oil has completed the first development well drilled from its refurbished LAM 10 platform offshore Turkmenistan, in the Cheleken Contract Area. Well LAM 10/110, spudded last Christmas, was drilled to a total depth of 4,875 m, encountering indications of oil and gas through reservoirs Zone 4-12. This is the first time Dragon has proven hydrocarbon potential in the deeper-lying strata of the Lam field. The well was a monobore completion. Up to four intervals will probably be tested, starting with reservoir 12.

Also on this project, the company completed a successful workover of well LAM 21/107, again with a monobore completion, which allows additional zones to be perforated at lower cost without having to run a new completion. In this case, reservoir intervals were perforated in Zones 4 and 5, resulting in increased production of 1,481 b/d. More workovers are planned this year featuring both rig-less perforations and a hydraulic workover system.

The Astra jack-up that drilled LAM 10/110 has since departed the contract area. It will be replaced shortly by the Khazar jack-up, built in Iran, which will drill up to six more development wells.

4/12/05