Offshore Congo well to test Litchedjilj extension

May 15, 2014
SOCO International has issued an update on its exploration and development programs offshore West Africa and Vietnam.

Offshore staff

LONDON – SOCO International has issued an update on its exploration and development programs offshore West Africa and Vietnam.

Off Republic of Congo (Brazzavaille), preparations are under way to secure a rig to drill the Litchendjili LXM-101 well in late June or early July. This will test the extension ofENI’s Litchendjili oil and gas discovery on the Marine XII block into SOCO’s Marine XI concession.

Following SOCO’s acquisition of a 60% interest in theMer Profond Sud block, the transaction remains subject to regulatory approval before the partners can enter the third and final period of the license. Discussions include a clear definition of the block boundary.

The partners are working on a well location study and aim to start drilling by early 2015.

In Vietnam’s southern offshore block 16-1 theTGT field is currently producing more than 40,000 boe/d via 16 wells from two unmanned platforms.

TGT-18P, the first of this year’s planned infill development wells, reached TD of 3,742 m (12,277 m) earlier this week and logging is under way. TheHercules Resilience spudded the well in March but operations had to be suspended following mechanical complications.

TheEnsco 109, which arrived on location in late April, completed the well.

Currently theTGT partners are focused on securing approval for the H5 development and have awarded contracts for the purchase of steel, long lead items, and for design and construction of the wellhead platform.

Construction has started on the jacket and negotiations continue to formalize the remaining contracts.

In offshore block 9-2, theCa Ngu Vang (CNV) partners the Naga 2 is drilling the CNV-7P well in the southwest area of the field.

The top-hole section has been completed and the well is currently at around 3,600 m (11,811 ft) MD.

05/15/2014