By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, June 9 – Tethys Petroleum Ltd. said logs at its East Olimtoi-09 exploratory well in the Afghan-Tajik basin in southwestern Tajikistan confirm the probable presence of movable hydrocarbons at 3,341-3,500 m in the Eocene Alai interval.
Independent petrophysical interpretation indicates as much as 32 m of net hydrocarbon-bearing pay with porosities of up to 17% in the section, which produced live oil and gas to surface at high formation pressures during drilling (OGJ Online, May 27, 2011). No oil-water contact is interpreted. Alai is a secondary objective at the well.
The potential closure covers more than 10 sq km in the East Olimtoi prospect alone.
The well is drilling ahead at 3,544 m in the Lower Eocene Suzak shale, which separates the Alai from the Paleocene Bukhara limestone. Depending on formation pressures it is planned to set 7-in. casing at the base of the Suzak shale prior to drilling through the Bukhara.
Tethys plans to production-test all zones of interest after the drilling is complete in 3‐4 weeks.
Mapping shows three additional structures around the salt piercement that could be drilled
following completion of the EOL09 well. There are other similar prospective structures in the area.
Photo from SABIC Limburg BV.
US Department of the Interior.
