By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Jan. 16 -- Fortuna Energy Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Talisman Energy Inc., Calgary, has completed a test of its Andrews Hz#1 gas well that is in the Appalachian basin in the Corning, NY area.
The well, which tests a new structure, was drilled to 10,100 ft and then steered horizontally within the upper Black River formation. It flowed on test at more than 18 MMcfd, limited by surface equipment, with a flowing pressure of 1,300 psi. During the flow test, the well was still unloading drilling and completion fluid, but the flow rate was strengthening. Based on initial flow results, Fortuna Energy said, the Andrews well has an unconstrained potential to exceed 30 MMcfd, and the capability to be possibly the most prolific well encountered in the region to date.
Tie-in work is under way, and the well is expected to be on stream in early March at a pipeline-restricted rate of 8-10 MMcfd.
Including the Andrews well, Fortuna Energy estimates that it has 30 MMcfd of shut-in gas production behind pipe in the region, but it said additional pipeline capacity should be available by early April.
The company plans to invest $85 million in 2004, drilling 11 horizontal Black River wells, increasing production by 30% over 2003 to more than 80 MMcfd.
