Bangladesh
Niko Resources Ltd., Calgary, gauged a stout gas discovery on the Feni Block, where it hopes to start commercial production within days.
Feni-4, directionally drilled to 3,100 m on the basis of 3D seismic data, flowed 16 MMcfd of gas from each of two previously untested zones on cased hole production tests constrained by equipment capacity.
The well, which Niko described as its most successful on the Feni Block, encountered multiple productive sands. Niko was testing the other zones.
Feni-4 and Feni-3 were to be put on production shortly via the main pipeline to Chittagong. Niko moved the rig to the Feni-5 drill site. Feni-3 tested gas from two zones. Niko operates Feni with 80% working interest.
East Timor
The government in Dili planned to award a contract for a nonexclusive seismic survey in the Timor Sea in advance of its first oil and gas exploration licensing round.
Press reports indicated that the contract will go to a combine of BGP Inc., Zhuozhuo City, China, and Global Geo Services ASA, Fagerstrand, Norway. Site of the survey is near the Australia-Indonesia Joint Development Area, which takes in Bayu-Undan and Greater Sunrise gas fields.
East Timor hopes to enact a petroleum law by the end of 2004.
Kazakhstan
BMB Munai Inc., Almaty, Kazakhstan, said it reentered the Aksaz-1 well first drilled and tested in 1994 and encountered pressures high enough that for safety reasons it decided to shut the well in until gas test facilities could be installed.
BMB Munai perforated the well, in Aksaz oil and gas field, at 4,269-73 m, 4,261-65 m, 4,256-57 m, and 4,248-53 m. This resulted in a strong gas flow with associated condensate.
After shut-in, tubinghead and casing (annulus) pressure were 270 and 225 atm, respectively.
New Zealand
Lignite in the Hawkdun field in north central Otago on the South Island could have 23-55 bcf of gas in place, said Kenham Holdings Ltd., Christchurch.
Kenham, which has drilled several exploratory holes on PEP 38218 and 38227, said the 25-90 m thick lignite seam could provide enough gas to run a 30-MW power station for 10-25 years, according to early data.
The low-rank lignite yielded biogenic gas that analyzed mainly methane with minor heavier hydrocarbons, the company said. Questions remain about permeability and the amount of free gas at depth.
Kenham and CRL Energy Ltd. have drilled in seven coal fields, Hawkdun, Mataura, and Ashers-Waituna lignite fields and Maramarua, Reefton, Ohai, and Kaitangata subbituminous fields.
Papua New Guinea
InterOil Corp., Toronto, is acquiring seismic and gravity surveys on PPL 238 in the eastern Papuan basin.
The acquisition program extends across the Moose structure, where two wells had oil shows in the limestone section, and the Elk structure and links with existing seismic data on the Puri structure. Puri-1 flowed 1,610 b/d of oil.
Syria
An independent reserve estimate resulted in an 8% increase in proved, probable, and possible reserves to 2.56 billion bbl at Oudeh field in northeastern Syria at the end of May 2004 compared with June 2003, said Tanganyika Oil Co. Ltd., Vancouver.
The estimate did not include the more recently completed 136, 137, and 138 horizontal wells.
The consulting firm also identified 134 billion bbl of oil in place in the western and central sectors of the Shiranish formation at Oudeh field.
Tanganyika is acquiring 3D seismic data over the entire field. Appraisal drilling in the western and central sectors and further development drilling throughout the rest of the field will start upon processing and interpretation of the 3D data.
Horizontal drilling and a well workover program have brought field production to 1,800 b/d even though several wells are shut-in for repairs.
Alberta
Nexen Inc., Calgary, in transition away from conventional oil and gas operations in Canada, has high hopes for a coalbed methane project at Corbett, Alta.
Nexen, having operated the pilot for 12 months, is very encouraged. It expanded the project to 45 wells to accelerate dewatering of the Cretaceous Mannville coals. This should position the company to make a decision on commercialization within a year, said Kevin Reinhart, vice-president of corporate planning and business development.
In the next 5 years, Nexen's economics, risked at 40% chance of success, point to 100 MMcfd of production, 400-500 bcf recoverable, and finding and development costs of $5/boe.
California
Plains Exploration & Production Co., Houston, said it spudded the Hidalgo C-13 development well after successfully completing the Hidalgo C-12 development well in Rocky Point field in the Santa Barbara Channel.
C-12 was flowing to a sales pipeline at 4,331 b/d of 38° gravity oil.
The company's plan was for two 2004 development wells with average well cost of $14 million, average initial producing rate of 3,000 boed, and average reserves of 2.7 million boe.
The C-12 well plan called for a total measured depth of 18,891 ft with a primary target at 5,953 ft TVD and a secondary target at 7,233 ft TVD, both in Miocene Monterey. The highly deviated well was drilled from a platform in Point Arguello field.
PXP operates Rocky Point field with 52.6% working interest and 43.8% revenue interest.