By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Dec. 29 -- A remote exploratory well in the Atlantic off Mauritania has answered some questions yet raised others about the remote frontier area.
Dana Petroleum E&P Ltd., operator for the Block 7 group, said wireline logging at Pelican-1 indicated a gross hydrocarbon column of more than 300 m in the well's primary, Tertiary-age (Paleocene) target horizon.
A number of good quality reservoir sands have been developed in the logged interval, Dana said.
The group drilled Pelican-1 to TD 3,825 m in 1,700 m of water 150 km north of the Chinguetti discovery. Pelican-1 encountered oil and gas shows while drilling from 3,400 m to TD. Preliminary analysis of log and pressure data indicate the hydrocarbon type within the sands at this crestal location on the structure to be gas, Dana added.
"It is too early to conclude whether Pelican-1 has discovered an independent gas field or a gas cap overlying an oil field," the operator said. Dana will suspend the well for future use.
Partner Roc Oil Co. Ltd., Sydney, said, "Individual sands are generally thin with variable reservoir characteristics but occasionally they are in the range of 5 to 10 m thick with excellent reservoir quality."
The wetness of the gas could not be determined, Roc Oil said.
Pelican-1, the first well drilled on the 3.3 million acre license, is on the southern part of the block. Dana said it will analyze all information to determine Pelican's significance and the potential that oil may exist downdip from the Pelican-1 drill site.
The Block 7 group includes Dana with 80% interest, Hardman Resources NL 18%, and Roc Oil 2% plus a 3.5% option.
