By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 13 -- Pogo Producing Co., Houston, reported drilling nine successful exploratory wells: three in the Gulf of Mexico, two in South Texas, and four in Thailand.
In the gulf, Pogo drilled on Main Pass Block 68 No. 1 to 7,300 ft TD, discovering 68 ft of natural gas pay. The well, in 28 ft of water, is on Louisiana State Lease No. 17824. Initial production is scheduled for third quarter 2004.
Pogo also drilled on Eugene Island Block 280, successfully encountering 120 ft of gross natural gas column at 15,850 ft. The company plans prompt development of this field. It had to plug one unsuccessful GOM well¿on Ewing Bank Block 830.
Pogo also owns a 25% nonoperating interest in a well drilled at Ship Shoal Block 52, where it encountered 66 ft of gross hydrocarbon pay at 16,912 ft, and an additional 40 ft of gross pay at 15,600 ft. A flow test yielded 970 bbl of oil and 2.7 MMcfd of natural gas on a 14/64-in. choke.
Onshore Texas
The Haynes No. 98 well in Los Mogotes field, Zapata County, Tex., tested at an initial gross production rate of 6.5 MMcfd from the Wilcox Lower Asche sand at 10,198 ft. Pogo will have drilled about 24 wells in the field by yearend, and expects to drill another 24 in 2004.
In Victoria County, the 65% Pogo-owned Jank No. 1 exploratory well is flowing from the Wilcox "J" sand at 10,700 ft. It is producing 136 bb/d of oil and 7 MMcfd of gas.
Gulf of Thailand
The current round of exploratory drilling on Thailand Block B8/32 yielded several successes. On Block 9A east of Tantawan field, the Tantawan No. 23 well logged 162 ft of pay and the Tantawan No. 24 well found 98 ft of hydrocarbon pay. Development drilling of fault blocks around each is scheduled for 2004.
Far north Maliwan field No. 10 well logged 72 ft of pay, while far south Maliwan field No. 11 well found 107 ft of hydrocarbon pay. These wells have expanded the areal reach of hydrocarbon productivity in Maliwan field, and future platforms in these field areas are likely, Pogo said.
The Thailand rig now will move to Maliwan "A" producing platform to begin batch-drilling six development wells, to be followed immediately by eight development wells at the newly installed Tantawan "H" platform. All development drilling is slated for completion by yearend.