Uchenna Izundu
International Editor
LONDON, Dec. 6 -- Dana Petroleum PLC reported an oil discovery in Cretaceous sandstones in its Aigrette-1 well on Block 7 off Mauritania (see map, OGJ, Oct. 23, 2006, p. 38).
The well was drilled to TD 5,152 m in 1,358 m of water. Dana ran wireline logs, took pressure measurements, sampled fluids, and cut sidewall cores.
"Downhole pressure measurements and fluid samples confirmed a 20-m oil column was present in good quality Cretaceous age reservoir sands," the company said.
The well was originally planned for TD 4,900 m. Dana said the deepened section encountered "significant further sands" that didn't contain oil.
Dana discovered gas in the Pelican-1 well on the same block in 2003.
"The extensive acreage of Block 7, coupled with the discovery of both oil and gas within the first two wells and the presence in Aigrette of deeper sands than those found in Pelican, all provides considerable encouragement for future drilling in this underexplored region of northern Mauritania," said Tom Cross, Dana's chief executive officer.
Dana, operator, and its partners work under a production-sharing contract on the block, which covers 10,090 sq km.
Interests are Dana 36%, Gaz de France 27.85%, Hardman Resources Ltd. 16.2%, Woodside Energy Ltd. 15%, and Roc Oil Co. Ltd. 4.95%.
