By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Feb. 3 -- A Unocal Corp. subsidiary has made another deepwater discovery in the northeastern Kutei basin off East Kalimantan on what partner Santos Ltd. calls frontier exploration acreage.
Hiu Aman 1, in the Donggala production-sharing contract (PSC) area, was drilled to 4,039 m TD in 14 days.
Preliminary analysis of the logging while drilling (LWD) and wireline logs, including modular dynamics test pressures and samples from the lower part of the well, indicates about 25 m of mostly gas pay.
Santos said it hopes the next wells confirm this "early indication that the proven, prolific petroleum system in the basin's shallow water extends into the deepwater trend."
The well lies seaward of West Seno field, Indonesia's first deepwater producing oil field. It is the first in a three-well drilling program on the block, where Unocal Donggala Ltd. is the operator, and Santos's first in the Donggala PSC area.
After wireline logging, the well will be plugged and abandoned. The rig will move to the Orca 1 drillsite, then to Pangkal 1 in the Papalang PSC to the south and Raksasa 1 in the Donggala PSC.
The Donggala PSC covers 3,821 km in 1,650-2,450 m of water. It lies between the Popodi and Papalang PSCs, in each of which Santos has a 20%, nonoperating interest.
Subject to regulatory approvals, Santos will gain a 65.45% total equity interest in the Donggala PSC. Pending additional agreements with the existing PSC participants, Santos plans to farm out 15.45% of its new equity interest. Santos will become operator of the Donggala PSC in 2006.
