Argentina
Crown Point Energy Inc., Calgary, said a drilling rig is expected to be available near yearend of suitable capacity to evaluate two structures on its wholly owned Cerro de Los Leones exploration concession in Mendoza Province in Argentina's Neuquen basin.
Seismic interpretation and geological integration continues to focus on two potentially multizone structural features identified on recently acquired 3D seismic on Cerro de Los Leones. The two features comprise the northern extension of a larger structural trend of producing fields just south of Crown Point's concession. Those fields include Pampa Palauco, a YPF field that record kept by the Argentine secretary of energy show has produced 21.4 million bbl of oil.
Engineering, well design, and reservoir evaluation is under way on the two prospects. Drilling these structures would evaluate both conventional reservoirs as well as the unconventional Vaca Muerta oil shales, Crown Point said.
Australia
PetroFrontier Corp., Calgary, has begun recording the "Amy" 2D proprietary seismic program consisting of 385 line-km on exploration permits 103, 104, 127, and 128 in the Southern Georgina basin in Australia's Northern Territory.
The program, contracted to Terrex Seismic of Australia, will fulfill the Northern Territory government work commitments for permit retention, delineate the southern and northwest basin margins, and help outline prospective hydrocarbon target areas.
PetroFrontier and partners Statoil Australia Theta BV and Baraka Energy & Resources Ltd. will interpret the data gathered to target conventional hydrocarbons in the Cambrian Thorntonia and other formations and unconventional hydrocarbons in the Lower Cambrian Arthur Creek formation.
The most promising areas will be seismically mapped and the data will aid in identifying locations for exploratory wells to be drilled as part of the 2013-14 program in the Southern Georgina basin.
Ireland
The 44/23-1 Dunquin North exploratory well off Ireland is a dry hole that found indications of oil and the presence of gas in the upper 144-ft section of an 800-ft thick reservoir, the first oil indications seen in the South Porcupine basin offshore Ireland, said Providence Resources PLC.
The ExxonMobil Exploration & Production Ireland-operated well went to a total depth of 16,400 ft in 1,700 m of water on the FEL 3/04 license. Preliminary interpretation indicates the thick, overpressured Lower Cretaceous carbonate reservoir to be water-bearing with evidence that hydrocarbons may have leaked following entrapment. All key components of a working petroleum system are present, including reservoir, seal, source, hydrocarbon migration, and entrapment, Providence Resources said.
The well was the first well to be drilled in a 100 sq km area, and no further information is to be released due to the proprietary nature of the well data, the company added. However, it said the separate Dunquin South build-up "appears to have a thicker seal and lacks the significant fluid escape features seen further to the north."
License interests are ExxonMobil 25.5%. Eni Ireland BV 27.5%, Repsol Exploracion Irlanda SA 25%, Providence Resources 16%, Atlantic Petroleum (Ireland) Ltd. 4%, and Sosina Exploration Ltd. 2%.
Providence noted that South Porcupine is the second of six basins to be drilled off Ireland as part of its multiwell program and that both wells have found hydrocarbons. The program has greatly increased industry interest in Ireland with five new entrants in the last 3 months including Cairn Energy, Eni, Statoil, Repsol, and Shell.
Yemen
Yemen's oil ministry has selected a unit of DNO International ASA, Oslo, as successful bidder for onshore Block 84 in the Masila-Seiyun basin.
Block 84 covers 731 sq km next to Block 14, where more than 1 billion bbl of oil have been found. DNO already holds interests in five onshore Yemen blocks, two of which, Blocks 43 and 47, are in the same basin.
DNO Yemen AS was awarded a 59.5% participating interest (70% paying interest) and operatorship of Block 84, joining Turkey's Dogan Enerji Yatirimlari Sanayi ve Ticaret AS with a 25.5% participating interest (30% paying interest) and Yemen Oil & Gas Corp. with a 15% participating interest.
The partners will shoot new 3D seismic and drill two exploratory wells in the first exploration period. The block award is subject to customary government approvals and ratification of a production sharing agreement.
Quebec
French companies Etablissements Maurel & Prom and MPI have formed a 50-50 partnership with Petrolia, Rimouski, Que., to explore 13 licenses totaling 1,892 sq km owned by Gastem Inc., Montreal, in the Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec.
Maurel & Prom and MPI set up the partnership using the Saint-Aubin Energie SAS corporation, a joint investment vehicle, that is held one third by Maurel & Prom and two thirds by MPI. This acquisition boosts Petrolia's interests in Quebec to nearly 16,000 sq km.
Over the next few months, technical teams from Petrolia and Maurel & Prom will develop a new exploration program for the 1,892 sq km area. They will pool their technical exploration and production expertise, and Petrolia will initially be responsible for carrying out the work.
The partners are also continuing discussion on extending the collaboration to other parts of Quebec in which Petrolia holds interests. Exploration will target unconventional and conventional reservoirs.
