SOCO International PLC has commenced drilling of its Baobab Marine-1 (BABM-1) wildcat on the Mer Profonde Sud Block in the Lower Congo basin offshore Congo (Brazzaville). The well is targeting early Miocene channel complexes on the RR Prospect, which are mappable in the seismic data and delineated by stratal discontinuities and variations in seismic amplitudes, the company said.
SOCO acquired a 60% working interest in the Mer Profonde Sud permit in a farmout from a unit of PA Resources AB, Stockholm (OGJ Online, Nov. 4, 2013). SOCO said the BABM-1 well is unique relative to other wells drilled in and near the block, yet two wells on adjacent blocks along trend provide confirmation that the BABM-1 wildcat is targeting a known oil-bearing section. Estimated P50 resources for the well are 330 million bbl of oil.
Noble Corp.’s Noble Globetrotter II drillship is expected to drill the wildcat in 25-30 days to a depth of 3,400 m below sea level. SOCO is carrying 100% of the well cost at $25-30 million. PA Resources Congo holds a 25% working interest in the license while state-owned Societe Nationale des Petroles du Congo (SNPC) holds a 15% interest.
