CNOOC Ltd., an affiliate of China National Offshore Oil Corp., said Nanbao 35-2-7 appraisal well in Nanbao 35-2 field in the southern part of Bohai Bay was drilled to 1,473 m and found 64 m of net pay. The well tested at 432 b/d of 16°-gravity crude. The find increased the previous reserve estimate of 65 million bbl by 25%, said CNOOC Ltd.
Oceaneering International Inc., Houston, said its Ocean Producer floating production, storage, and offloading vessel has begun a 7-year contract with Angola Drilling Co. Ltd. to receive production from four subsea wells in the Canuku area of Block 3 off Angola. Sonangol Pesquisa E Producao SARL hired ADC to develop and produce the Canuku area.
First Echelon Ventures Inc., Vancouver, has begun a secondary recovery pilot project at Morton field in Converse County, Wyo. Drilling was underway at a low temperature oxidation injector well. The field has produced 350,000 bbl from 25 wells in the last 15 years, but the company said LTO can recover 60% of the remaining 35 million bbl in place. First production is expected by yearend.
Transocean Sedco Forex Inc., Houston, claimed a record for ultradeepwater drilling record when its Discoverer Spirit drillship spudded an appraisal well in 9,727 ft of water on Unocal Corp.'s Alaminos Canyon Block 903. Discoverer Spirit also held the previous record of 9,687 ft, also on Alaminos Canyon Block 903.
