By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Apr. 15 -- Maurel & Prom, Paris, operator of Mboundi oil and gas field in Congo (Brazzaville), tested its 1001 stepout well recently drilled in the north-northeast end of the field, which lies on the Kouilou permit 25 km inland from Pointe Indienne on the Atlantic Coast (see map, OGJ, Nov. 8, 2004, p. 36).
Tested at the shallowest section of the Vandji reservoir, Well 1001 had an initial flow of 4,000 bo/d, indicating a further extension of the reservoir in that direction.
"Preliminary interpretation of well log data indicates a thickening of this reservoir section in this area, with excellent permeability and porosity," said partner Burren Energy PLC, London, which holds a 35% interest in the permit. Maurel & Prom holds 54%, and Energy Africa Ltd., Cape Town, 11%.
Well 1303, recently drilled at the northeast end of Mboundi field, encountered a tight, unproductive reservoir and will not be commercially developed.
Export MOU signed
Maurel & Prom signed a nonbinding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Total SA subsidiary TEP Congo, which operates the Djeno terminal, to handle and export crude oil from Mboundi and Kouakouala fields. The 39° crude from these fields currently is incorporated into 28° Djeno Blend, which in 2004 realized an average discount to dated Brent of $3.70/bbl.
The MOU—subject to certain modifications to the facilities at the Djeno terminal that are expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter—provides for Mboundi and Kouakouala crudes to be incorporated into the lighter Nkossa blend that sells a discount to dated Brent of $1/bbl.
The contracts are subject to approval by all Kouilou and Kouakouala production-sharing contract partners and by parties with existing offtake rights to Nkossa blend.
