Cuba
Sherritt International Corp., Toronto, plans to appraise and develop a large portion of Santa Cruz field, which it declared commercial in February 2006.
Santa Cruz, announced in December 2004, is on Block 7 just off Cuba’s central north coast (see map, OGJ, Jan. 10, 2005, p. 31).
The 2006 work program also calls for an exploration well at Playa Larga on Block 10 north of Cardenas, appraising the Majaguillar-Corajol deposit discovered several years ago on western Block 9 east of Cardenas, and follow-up after the 2005 exploration wells.
Sherritt in early March was evaluating the San Anton exploration well on western Block 9. A joint venture partner as operator of Block 7 was evaluating the Tarara exploration well to determine whether light oil found in a secondary horizon can be produced commercially (OGJ Online, Feb. 17, 2006).
The Guanabo exploration well on Block 7 west of Boca de Jaruco oil field was likely to be abandoned.
Oil production in 2006 should be comparable to 2005 levels, the company said. The seven producing fields or groups of fields in which Sherritt holds a working interest averaged 42,286 b/d in 2005.
The two largest fields in terms of 2005 output, both Sherritt-operated, were Yumuri at 12,333 b/d and Varadero West at 10,180 b/d.
Alabama
The Black Warrior basin unit of Dominion Exploration & Production Co., Richmond, Va., is exploring for shale gas in north-central Alabama.
The company staked location for an 8,000-ft wildcat in 27-13s-4e, St. Clair County.
A previous company test in 34-13s-4e flowed 233 Mcfd of gas after frac on a 38⁄64-in. choke with 2 psi flowing tubing pressure from Floyd/Conasauga perforations at 5,206-5,592 ft, reported Southeastern Oil Review, Jackson, Miss. (OGJ Online, Nov. 21, 2005).
The area is 60 miles east of Black Warrior basin production.
