Mærsk hits in shallow water Campos basin

Offshore staff

RIO DE JANEIRO -- OGX Petróleo e Gás Participações S.A. reports its exploration well 1-MRK-3.4-RJS has found hydrocarbons. The well is in permit BM-C-37 in shallow waters of the Campos basin offshore Brazil.

The well, drilled to a depth of 3,400 m (11,155 ft) below sea level found hydrocarbons in the Santonian, Albian, and Aptian sections, according to OGX.

Operator Mærsk Oil’s preliminary evaluations show a reservoir in the Santonian section totaling some 14 m (46 ft) of potential net pay. In addition, some 43 and 12 m (141 and 39 ft) of potential net pay were encountered, respectively, in carbonate reservoirs in the Albian and Aptian sections.

Known as Carambola-A, this is the first of two wells to be drilled in the BM-C-37 block the drilling of this prospect was concluded at a final depth of 3,400 meters below sea level.

Carambola-A is 74 km (46 mi) off the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro at a water depth of approximately 134 m (440 ft). The Blackford Dolphin initiated drilling on Nov. 3, 2010, and will now move 4 km (2.5 mi) north to drill the Carambola B exploration well.

1/6/2011