By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Apr. 18 – Heritage Oil Corp., Calgary, secured a rig that is expected to start a multiwell exploration and appraisal program in July on the Miran Block in Iraq Kurdistan while the company discusses fast-track development of gas at Miran West field.
The first well, Miran-3, is a 4-km stepout appraisal of the Miran West-2 Jurassic gas discovery well. Miran-3 targets the flanks of the Jurassic structure and will appraise the Upper and Lower Cretaceous reservoirs as it drills to its primary Jurassic objective. Estimated total depth is 3,800 m.
The well bore will be angled to increase the frequency of fracture penetration and orientated in the optimal direction for the interception of open fractures. It is planned to undertake a comprehensive test program targeting numerous potential reservoir horizons.
On completion the rig will move to the Miran West-4 appraisal well. A second rig is being sourced to drill the Miran East-1 exploration well in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Heritage is shooting 730 sq km of 3D seismic on the Miran block to help define further appraisal drilling locations and fully exploit fracture networks. This is believed to be Kurdistan’s largest 3D seismic program.
Meanwhile, the Kurdistan Regional Government has outlined its favoured development options for gas utilization and the initial priority will be to satisfy local gas demand by supplying produced gas on commercial terms to local power stations and other end-users in the Sulymaniyah region in 2013.
Early gas production will result in early condensate and oil production. This will then be followed by the export of gas to Turkey and Europe and full production of the oil and condensate zones enabling full field development.
Genel Energy International Ltd. holds 25% interest in the Miran license.
159458497 Aleksei Zakirov | Dreamstime.
Photo from Esso SAF.
