Triton finds second reservoir off Equatorial Guinea

June 13, 2000
Triton Energy Ltd., Dallas, reported today that its Ceiba-3 development well, drilled off Equatorial Guinea, has confirmed the primary reservoir found by the Ceiba-1 and Ceiba-2 wells and encountered a deeper, 'similar-quality' oil reservoir. Ceiba-3 cut 256 ft of net oil-bearing pay, based on the analysis of drilling, coring, wireline logging, and samples, says Triton.


The good luck that Triton Energy Ltd. tripped across when it made a major oil discovery off Equatorial Guinea last year appears to be getting better. Dallas-based Triton reported today that its Ceiba-3 development well, drilled off Equatorial Guinea, has confirmed the primary reservoir found by the Ceiba-1 and Ceiba-2 wells and encountered a deeper, "similar-quality" oil reservoir.

Ceiba-3 cut 256 ft of net oil-bearing pay, based on analysis of drilling, coring, wireline logging, and samples, says Triton. The second reservoir has an oil-water contact about 60 ft deeper than the oil-water contact found in the first two wells drilled in Ceiba field.

"The Ceiba-3 well is the third well that has encountered thick, high-quality pay sands in the Ceiba field," said James C. Musselman, Triton president and CEO. "Ceiba-3 confirms the potential of the Ceiba field and is the first test of the reservoir images mapped from our 3D seismic data."

The well validated lateral reservoir continuity and connectivity in the oil reservoir tested in the Ceiba-1 and 2 wells. The extent of the new, deeper reservoir will be determined by future drilling, says Triton.

Drilled in 2,165 ft of water on Block G, 22 miles off Equatorial Guinea, Ceiba-3 reached a total depth of 9,695 ft. The well is about 1 mile northeast and 282 ft downdip of the Ceiba-1 discovery well, announced in October 1999; it confirms the northern extension of Ceiba field.

The Ceiba-2 appraisal well, announced in November 1999, confirmed the oil-water contact found in Ceiba-1.

The development plan calls for Ceiba-3 to be completed this summer. Meanwhile, Triton spudded Ceiba-4 May 31 with the Sedco 700 semisubmersible rig. The well is about 1 mile southwest of Ceiba-2.

Following drilling, Ceiba-4 will be completed, after which the rig will complete Ceiba-1, 2, and 3. The wells will then be hooked up to the field's early production system so that first oil can be achieved by yearend.

Production from the first four Ceiba wells will be transferred to a floating production, storage, and offloading vessel with an initial processing capacity of 60,000 b/d of oil.

Following the drilling of Ceiba-3, Global Marine's R.F. Bauer drillship is moving 1.75 miles to the northwest of Ceiba-3, where it will spud the Ceiba-5 delineation well.

Triton is analyzing 4,200 sq km of seismic data acquired over Block G and adjacent Block F. The data will help the firm determine the extent of the field, as well as test other exploration prospects.

Plans call for two more exploration wells to be drilled this year. The timing and locations of these wells have not been determined, says Triton.

Triton has an 85% working interest in and is the operator of Blocks F and G; South Africa's Energy Africa Ltd. holds the remainder. The blocks are in the Rio Muni basin off Equatorial Guinea, 150 miles south of the country's capital, Malabo.