Offshore staff
LONDON -- The Transocean jackup Adriatic IX has started first-phase development drilling on the Ebok field, 50 km (31 mi) offshore southeast Nigeria in 135 ft (41 m) of water.
According to operator Afren, the Ebok-5 appraisal well will test upside potential at three reservoir horizons in the field’s western fault block, with gross estimated oil in place of 92 MMbbl, and recoverable resources of around 25 MMbbl.
Next up, the Ebok-6 well will test upside potential arising from a down-dip extension of the D2 reservoir (southern lobe), where 8 MMbbl is thought to be recoverable.
Thereafter, five horizontal producer wells will be drilled into Ebok’s D2 reservoir fault block 1 and 2 areas, targeting 27 MMbbl recoverable. A further horizontal producer will be drilled on the D1 reservoir fault block 1 and 2 areas, where the recoverable estimate is 26 MMbbl.
Completion of the latter well, says Afren, will allow planning to be optimized prior to launching a full development of the D1 reservoir in the next development phase.
Afren and its partner Oriental Energy have submitted an environmental impact assessment and development plan to the Nigerian authorities. Construction of the Ebok wellhead support structure is under way.
Initial production from the field should deliver production of 15,000 b/d during the first half of next year, rising to 35,000 b/d by end-2010. The start of the second-phase scheme will follow, incorporating full development of the D1 reservoir (fault block 1 and 2 areas and the western fault block).
In parallel, the partners will aim to appraise the potential within the West Flank Qua Iboe structure (45 MMbbl thought to be recoverable) and Fault block North (around 9 MMbbl recoverable).
Recently, Afren acquired the adjacent Okwok field, where it plans to drill an appraisal well in mid-2010. Well location and development studies are under way here also, one aim being to maximize synergies with Ebok.
09/28/2009
