New Zealand: Sidewinder well finds oil, gas

May 9, 2011
The interpreted total hydrocarbon column at Sidewinder in New Zealand’s Taranaki basin now exceeds 196 ft in thickness, said TAG Oil Ltd., Vancouver, BC.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, May 9
– The interpreted total hydrocarbon column at Sidewinder in New Zealand’s Taranaki basin now exceeds 196 ft in thickness, said TAG Oil Ltd., Vancouver, BC.

Results from the Sidewinder-4 exploratory well on PEP 38748 indicate that the targeted oil and gas charged Miocene Mount Messenger formation extends far to the east of the Sidewinder-1 discovery well, the company said. Sidewinder-3 confirmed that the accumulation extends to the south. No water column has been encountered.

The four Sidewinder wells drilled to date indicate that the size and scope of the Sidewinder discovery area is much larger than originally anticipated. Furthermore, the entire permit remains lightly explored and prospective for further oil and gas discoveries, with numerous drill-ready prospects.

Sidewinder-4, sidetracked to a location downdip of Sidewinder-3, targeted a fault-bounded 3D anomaly and intercepted a gross 95-ft-thick sandstone reservoir with 62 ft of net oil and gas charged sandstones. Total depth is 4,626 ft. Electric logs indicate hydrocarbon charge to the base of the sandstone.

Free oil was observed over the shakers during drilling of the target zone. Consistent with all four wells, the sandstones at Sidewinder-4 have excellent porosity and permeability. TAG is preparing to flow test Sidewinder-2, 3, and 4 in a few weeks.