By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Oct. 22 -- ENI SPA subsidiary Agip KCO—formerly Offshore Kazakhstan International Operating Co.—operator of the North Caspian Sea production-sharing agreement, reported that hydrocarbons have been encountered in the Kalamkas well in the Kazakhstan sector of the Caspian Sea. The North Caspian PSA covers 5,600 sq km.
The Kalamkas exploration area is near giant Kashagan field, also Agip KCO-operated, which was declared a commercial discovery June 30 with estimated reserves of 7-9 billion bbl of oil (OGJ Online, June 28, 2002).
The (Kalamkas-1) well was spudded Aug. 4 and drilled to 2,360 m TD, using the Baku-based Qurtulus jack up rig, "which was floated into Kazakh waters specifically for the well," Agip KCO said. The drilling was in very shallow and "extremely environmentally sensitive" waters, requiring specialist skills and procedures. Kalamkas-1 is the first well drilled in Kazakh waters using jack up technology.
On test, the well indicated an initial oil flow rate of 2,300 b/d of oil through a 32/64-in. choke. Following test completion, the well will be abandoned and Qurtulus will return to Azeri waters.
In Kashagan field, Agip KCO also drilled the two Kashagan appraisal wells, Kashagan KE-2 and KE-3, while two other appraisal wells, KE-4 and KE-5, are currently being drilled.
In addition to Kashagan and Kalamkas fields, Agip KCO is continuing exploration of other offshore structures within the North Caspian Sea PSA.
Other members of the North Caspian Sea PSA consortium are BG Group PLC, ENI , ExxonMobil Corp., Royal Dutch/Shell Group, and TotalFinaElf SA, each with 16.67% interest; and ConocoPhillips and Tokyo's Inpex Corp. both with 8.33% interest.