Premier targets late-2020 for block 30 drilling offshore Mexico

Aug. 22, 2019

Offshore staff

LONDON – Processing has started of a new 3D seismic survey recently completed over block 30 offshore Mexico.

According to partner Premier Oil, the main goals are to delineate the extent of the Wahoo prospect, which exhibits DHIs analogous to the nearby Zama oilfield, and to mature other prospects on the block, such as Cabrilla.

Drilling is expected to start at the end of 2020.

During July, Mexican regulator CNH approved Premier’s exploration plan for its 100% operated blocks 11 and 13 in the Burgos basin, which carry a four-year initial term.

Reprocessing is under way of the existing 3D seismic and should be completed early next year.

Offshore Brazil, the company is engaging with rig contractors for available units to drill a well in 2020 on the stacked Berimbau and Maraca prospects in block 717 in the Ceara basin.

Elsewhere in the Ceara basin, the block 661 joint venture has secured a license extension through November 2021, and the partners hope to agree soon on the final well locations to test stacked Itarema and Tatajuba prospects on respectively blocks 717 and 661.

These will target prospective resources of more than 500 MMbbl.

Offshore Indonesia, Premier’s BIG-P gas fields development is progressing in Natuna Sea block A: this involves a three-well subsea tieback to existing infrastructure.

The first two of the three development wells, SBS-1 at Bison and SIG-1 at Iguana, have been completed and flow tested, while the third well, SGP-1 at Gajah-Puteri, is currently undergoing completion.  

Fabrication has finished of the subsea structures for BIG-P, with load-out imminent, and the Iguana-to-Bison-to-Pelikan and Anoa-to-Gajah-Puteri subsea pipelines have been laid.

Installation will start next month of the subsea structures followed by the umbilicals and final hook up and tie-in of the wells.  

A recently acquired 3D seismic survey across the company’s Andaman I, Andaman II and South Andaman licenses in the South Andaman Sea will be processed to mature gas prospects identified on the existing 2D data.

Premier aims to start drilling in early 2021.

Finally, the company plans three more well intervention campaigns this year on the Chim Sáo oilfield offshore Vietnam followed by four more in 2020.  

It is also lining up a two-well infill drilling in 2021 to maximize recovery and extend the field’s life.

08/22/2019