The Sea Lion main complex in the North Falkland basin could yield ultimate recovery of 325-434 million bbl of oil, said Rockhopper Exploration PLC.
Fast-track interpretation of 3D seismic indicates the extent of the main complex at 90 sq km and that it could contain a mid-case 1.086 billion bbl of oil in place within a range of 608 million bbl in the low case to 1.279 billion bbl in the high case.
Four other prospects, Lower Fan B15, Casper, Kermit, and Chatham, could contain potential oil in place of a further 433 million bbl as a mid-case, said Rockhopper, which said final interpretation of the 3D data should be complete by yearend.
The 325-434 million bbl potentially recoverable from the main complex equates to 30-40% recovery factors and “could be achievable using industry standard production techniques including water injection, artificial lift, deviated or horizontal wells and-or other enhanced oil recovery techniques,” Rockhopper said.
The fast-track processing of 3D data from the southern parts of the PL032 and PL033 licenses, combined with data from the 14/10-2, 14/10-3, 14/10-4, 14/10-5, and 14/10-6 wells, “indicates that the SLMC comprises two fan lobes sourced from the same main feeder channel just to the east of the 14/20-5 and 14/10-2 wells,” the company said.
“The two lobes, represented as sand packages within the wells, are identified as SL20 and SL10” and are in pressure communication.
“The two packages together comprise the SLMC and are interpreted to comprise of mass flow turbidite sand sequences prograding from the sand input point to the east and extending beyond the southern boundary of licenses PL032 into license PL004, where Rockhopper has a nonoperated 7.5% working interest.” Desire Petroleum PLC operates PL003 and PL004.
The interpretation also enabled Rockhopper to identify two new feeders into the basin and map the Casper and Kermit prospects, both with similar fan systems fed from the east and with seismic character similar to the SLMC. Casper is stratigraphically shallower and Kermit deeper than the SLMC.
Following Well 14/10-6, Rockhopper believes that the B15 sand, which forms part of the lower fan complex, is also in communication with the SLMC. The company is committed to drill three further wells and is discussing drilling more wells under an assignment agreement.
