By the OGJ Online Staff
CALGARY, Apr. 30 -- Operator Petro-Canada says the first wildcat drilled in the Mackenzie Delta in several decades went smoothly.
The Kurk M-15 well, 93 miles northwest of Inuvik, encountered a number of sand zones with gas shows. It was drilled to about 10,171 ft, 1,312 ft beyond the original target depth.
The well is the first in a multi-year drilling program planned by the company and partner Anderson Exploration Ltd.
Graeme Phipps, Petro-Canada vice-president for exploration and international, said, "Gas-saturated sands encountered by drilling were confirmed by the logs and are now safely behind pipe. The information we have is preliminary and still being evaluated, but we are certainly encouraged."
Phipps said after evaluations are complete, the company may test the gas saturated zones next winter to determine reserve potential and productivity.
The Kurk rig is now in summer storage at the nearby Swimming Point base camp. Petro-Canada plans to use it to drill two wildcats/year for the next 5 years.
Petro-Canada and Anderson also shot more than 270 sq miles of 3D seismic in the past winter, which Phipps said would give the companies future drilling options.
Petro-Canada holds about 1 million gross acres of undeveloped land in the Mackenzie Delta region.
A number of companies with proven gas reserves in the Delta are now actively studying feasibility of additional development and a pipeline through the Mackenzie Valley to connect with southern markets.