Austral Pacific completes another Cheal B well

Nov. 14, 2006
Austral Pacific Energy Ltd. on Nov. 7 achieved a TD of 1,866 m with its Cheal B2 well, the second of four wells to be drilled back-to-back from the Cheal B site.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 14 -- Austral Pacific Energy Ltd. on Nov. 7 achieved a TD of 1,866 m with its Cheal B2 well, the second of four wells to be drilled back-to-back from the Cheal B site. The program is part of Cheal oil field development in New Zealand's Taranaki basin.

This well targeted and intersected the late Miocene Mount Messenger sands over a gross interval of 1,709-1,735 m.

Wireline logs indicate these sands are oil bearing. The logs also showed that thinly bedded sands from the secondary target—the Urenui formation—over a gross interval of 1,278-1,383 m were oil bearing as well.

Production casing has been run at the Cheal B2 well, and the Ensign Energy Services Rig 19 is being mobilized to the adjacent Cheal B3 site. Drilling of the Cheal B3 well is expected to begin by Nov. 17.

The four wells are expected to produce a combined 1,000 b/d in first quarter 2007, rising to 1,900 b/d in second quarter 2007 (OGJ Online, Oct. 12, 2006).

Field operator Austral Pacific holds a 36.5% interest in the field. This will increase to 69.5% following completion of its acquisition of Arrowhead Energy Ltd.