The Statoil-operated initial deepwater exploratory well drilled in Area 2 offshore Mozambique encountered 38 m of good quality gas-bearing reservoir that early evaluation indicates is likely noncommercial on a standalone basis, said Tullow Oil PLC.
The Cachalote-1 well, which targeted several geological plays associated with the regionally important Ibo high of the Rovuma basin, discovered a gas-bearing reservoir in a deepwater channel system.
The gas-bearing reservoir sandstones were found in an Upper Cretaceous objective on the outboard flank of the Ibo high. The deeper target had no indication of hydrocarbons.
Cachalote-1 was then sidetracked to target older sandstone reservoirs that were expected to be developed on the inboard flank of the Ibo high. The sidetrack encountered thick sandstones that were not of reservoir quality.
Wet gas shows were seen in the well, providing important evidence for a working petroleum system, Tullow said. Following completion of logging operations, the well has been plugged and abandoned.
The Discoverer Americas dynamically positioned drillship drilled Cachalote-1 to a final depth of 2,475 m in 688 m of water and the sidetrack to a final depth of 3,191 m below sea level. The drillship will move to drill the Buzio-1 wildcat in the east of the license on the outboard flank of the Ibo high.
Interests in areas 2 and 5 are Statoil 40%, Inpex Corp. 25%, Tullow 25%, and Mozambique’s state Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos EP 10% carried.
