Offshore staff
LONDON -- PetroVietnam, the national oil company of Vietnam, has approved the application for two appraisal areas within block 16-1, according to the Hoang Long Joint Operating Co. (HLJOC). The company, which is the operator of block 16-1 in the Cuu Long basin offshore Vietnam, will now submit the documentation required for the formal governmental approval.
The Te Giac Den (TGD) appraisal area encompasses 150 sq km (58 sq mi) including the HT/HP discovery well Te Giac Den 1X-ST1 on prospect E, and the analogous E South Prospect. This area borders the southern boundary of the Te Giac Trang (TGT) field where pre-development activity is underway.
The Voi Trang appraisal area, the award of which is conditional upon a successful reserve assessment report (RAR) of the commerciality of the previous discoveries in the awarded area, encompasses the Voi Trang discovery and several adjacent leads, and covers an area of approximately 100 sq km (39 sq mi).
Upon receiving final governmental approval of the appraisal areas, which is expected this month, work will begin immediately to reprocess the 3D seismic over the TGD appraisal area in anticipation of drilling a well in 2010. The RAR on the Voi Trang appraisal area is anticipated to be complete by the end of the second quarter.
"PetroVietnam's agreement for the approval of the Te Giac Den appraisal area in the HT/HP play area is a very significant development for SOCO in that it affords us the opportunity to incorporate our previous drilling results with re-processed seismic and to plan an effective drilling program to return to this highly prospective area," says Ed Story, President and Chief Executive of SOCO.
01/07/2009
