Cyprus
Egypt's oil minister was to visit Cyprus for talks on the oil potential of the eastern Mediterranean.
Exploration in Egypt's Nile Delta has confirmed large gas and condensate reserves, some of which have been brought into production. Several discoveries have been made in the Mediterranean off Israel.
A European Union report confirmed that high gas potential extends into Cyprus waters, press reports said.
Congo (Brazzaville)
Maurel & Prom, Paris, made an indicated oil discovery at the first well on the 850,000-acre Kouilou license onshore 20 km north of Kouakouala field.
M'Boundi 1 cut an apparent 125 m oil column in Lower Cretaceous Vandji sands, the primary objective, with no defined oil-water contact, said Heritage Oil Corp., Calgary. The findings are based on evidence during drilling and from log analysis. Casing was set and production tests planned. TD is 2,124 m.
Several other prospects are identified on the license.
Interests are Maurel & Prom 35%, Tacoma Resources Ltd. 35%, and Heritage 30%.
Russia
CanBaikal Resources Inc., Calgary, signed a letter of intent with Schlumberger Oilfield Services for an integrated project management program on its 400 sq km Untegey Block in Russia.
The proposed project is a reservoir optimization program that includes risk-sharing development of the Kulun pool in western Siberia.
An optimization plan is to be developed shortly, and three wells are to be drilled in the 2001-02 winter.
The companies plan to establish a relationship for the development of other fields in the block.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekgeofizika planned to process and image a 280 sq km 3D seismic survey acquired over an unspecified oil field in the central Fergana basin.
The state firm, which took delivery of new processing and imaging software and hardware from Cie. Generale de Geophysique, said its Tashkent center has the capability to process all Uzbekistan seismic data.
Alberta
PanCanadian Petroleum Ltd. and MGV Energy Inc., the Canadian subsidiary of Quicksilver Resources Inc., Fort Worth, said their coalbed methane joint venture will begin drilling pilot wells in the fall.
The CBM program, the largest so far in Canada, has drilled 21 exploration wells of a planned 50. These wells are being tested and evaluated.
The companies have doubled the CBM joint venture's capital program to more than $30 million (Can.).
The upcoming pilot program represents the first set of multiple pilots drilled in Canada as part of a commercial venture, MGV said.
The firms formed the CBM joint venture last Nov. 1 to explore 1 million acres on the Palliser Block.
Nova Scotia
A large seismic survey was planned in the Maritimes basin north of Truro.
The program called for 70 km of Vibroseis surveys in an 80-mile area between Debert and Parrsboro focusing on the Pennsylvanian Parrsboro formation, said Osprey Energy Ltd., Bridgewater, NS. Osprey did not identify the project operator. It said Parrsboro is 850 m thick in the area.
California
PYR Energy Corp., Denver, said PYR and partners will pursue development of the East Lost Hills discovery in the San Joaquin basin after the 3R ELH well on a structure separate from ELH was deemed nonproductive.
TD is 21,769 ft MD. The well was designed to test the Oligocene Temblor interval. It encountered hydrocarbon shows there and flared gas several times from the underlying shale. Steep dips low in the well made it impossible to reach the Eocene Point of Rocks secondary objective.
Several other wells are drilling or to spud soon.
Mississippi
A well drilled by Lewis Oil Corp., Gulfport, Miss., established the state's first production from the Miocene Amphistegina zone, reports Southeastern Oil Review, Jackson, Miss.
The 1 International Paper 7-5, in 7-8s-15w, Hancock County, flowed 624 Mcfd of gas on a 10/64 in. choke with 1,630 psi FTP from perforations at 3,944-56 ft. The field is to be named Mariner.
The discovery is 13/4 miles west of Waveland gas and condensate field.
Ohio
Operators were given the option to receive a higher price for gas sold under low-price, life-of-the-well natural gas sales contracts with purchaser Dominion East Ohio.
In a program administered by the Ohio Oil & Gas Association, gas contracts at a base price plus transportation of less than $2.65/Mcf will be renegotiated to $3.347/Mcf less a 5-cent administrative fee paid to OOGA for the next 12 months. After that producers or DEO could terminate the contracts on 30 days' written notice.
Ohio regulators approved the plan. Some 2.6 bcf of gas is affected. Ohio produces about 95 bcf/year.
Tennessee
Tengasco Inc., Knoxville, completed its 38th and 39th successful wells in Swan Creek gas and oil field located in Hancock County.
The two wells went to TD 5,000 ft and 5,010 ft, and each cut 62 ft of gas pay in the Knox. The company operates 32 gas wells and 7 oil wells in the Eastern Overthrust Belt field, where it has three rigs under contract.
The last few wells encountered multiple oil pay zones in Ordovician Stones River and Murfreesboro at 3,200-4,000 ft.