SOCO International updates Vietnam drilling program

June 16, 2008
There was a discovery on the Te Giac Den 1X sidetrack (TGD-1X-ST1) well offshore southeast Vietnam, targeting prospect E following completion of the first of two scheduled drill stem tests (DST), according to SOCO International.

Offshore staff

LONDON -- There was a discovery on the Te Giac Den 1X sidetrack (TGD-1X-ST1) well offshore southeast Vietnam, targeting prospect E following completion of the first of two scheduled drill stem tests (DST), according to SOCO International. Hoang Long Joint Operating Co., operator of block 16-1, made the announcement.

Although significant downhole damage sustained during drilling and preparations for completion precluded recording meaningful sustained flow rates, the test flowed gas and condensate to surface. The well is being prepared for the second DST above the volcanics layer, which should not be subject to the same problems as this interval had been cased prior to drilling into the interval tested in DST 1.

The results of the second DST should be available by the end of June.

The TGT-6X appraisal well in the H4 fault block of the Te Giac Trang (TGT) field on block 16-1 has completed the second of the two planned DSTs. The two tested intervals of this well, a down dip appraisal of the TGT-3X discovery, flowed at a combined maximum rate of 14,490 b/d of oil of 39° API gravity crude oil. Although the well flowed gas with a relatively low gas to oil ratio, measurement problems precluded recording a reliable gas rate.

The TGT field comprises five fault blocks extending over 15 km (9.3 mi) on a north to south trend line along the eastern portion of block 16-1.

Two further appraisal wells are planned this year to offset discoveries on both the H1 and H3 fault blocks in the TGT field. The PetroVietnam Drilling and Well Services rigPVD-1 will return to block 9-2 after completing operations on TGT-6X. The next appraisal well, the TGT-7X on the H3 fault block, will be drilled by the Adriatic XI rig once it completes testing operations on the TGD-1X-ST1 well on prospect E.

The topsides and modules have now been installed on the unmanned wellhead platform in the Ca Ngu Vang field. ThePVD-1 rig has moved to the CNV wellhead platform to begin the tieback and completion of the three pre-drilled development wells. Afterwards, it will then resume the CNV development well drilling program. First oil is scheduled to begin before the end of July.

06/16/2008