Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 6 -- Dana Petroleum PLC unit Dana Petroleum (E&P) Ltd. reported that its Faucon-1 exploration well, being drilled on Block 1 off Mauritania, has encountered hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone in the main Cretaceous target horizon.
Dana said drilling has been temporarily suspended at 3,536 m for acquisition of wireline logs, formation pressures, and fluid and core samples. Dana intends to deepen the well by as much as 700 m to assess the Cretaceous section.
The hydrocarbons occurred in the Cretaceous zone in which Woodside Petroleum Ltd. intersected a gross oil interval of about 8 m with the Tevet-2 well to the north of Faucon-1 (OGJ Online, Sept. 27, 2005).
At the time, Woodside said the result was encouraging for future Cretaceous exploration in Mauritanian sites it operates.
Dana is operator of Block 1 with a 36% share. Other shareholders are Gaz de France UK 24%, Tullow Oil PLC 20%, Hardman Petroleum (Mauritania) Pty. Ltd. 18%, and Roc Oil (Mauritania) Co. 2%.
Contact Eric Watkins at [email protected].
