Offshore staff
LONDON -- Salamander Energy has completed its drilling program on the Bualuang oil field, offshore Gulf of Thailand. The jackup rig Vantage Emerald Driller drilled an exploration well, two horizontal producers, and a water disposal well on the field
Both horizontal wells, BA-11H and BA-12H, are completed in the crestal area of the field with downhole electric submersible pumps and expandable sand screens.
Production rates tested at over 18,000 b/d of oil. The two horizontal producers will be choked back to produce at a rate of circa 14,000 b/d of oil, which is the optimal rate for reservoir management and reserves recovery, the company says.
Both wells consist of approximately 250-m (280-ft) horizontal sections in a target zone 2 to 3 m (7 to 10 ft) below the top reservoir. Pump rates were increased slowly to bed in the sand screens, clean up the wells, and determine well productivity, which is significantly greater than pre-drill estimates, the company says.
"The successful completion of this Salamander operated drilling program has resulted in a step change in production from the Bualuang oil field from these highly productive horizontal wells, from circa 6,000 b/d of oil to over 14,000 b/d of oil," says James Menzies, chief executive of Salamander. "Their performance will be monitored and incorporated into full field dynamic modeling, to better understand the ultimate recoverable reserves of the field."
05/12/2009
