By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Mar. 9 -- SOCO Vietnam Ltd. was moving a rig to Block 16-1 in the Cuu Long basin to drill as many as eight exploration wells this year after failing to find commercial hydrocarbons at an exploratory well on Block 9-2.
Ca Ong Doi-2X, the first well to target clastics on the block, found sands in the Lower Miocene. The sands were not charged, possibly indicating that the structure developed after hydrocarbon migration, SOCO said.
The well also found sands in the Oligocene C and E sequences. Oligocene C had good shows but was thinner than expected, and after electric log evaluation it was decided not to flow test. Oligocene E had residual oil, indicating that the reservoir had been breached.
The well, drilled on 3D seismic surveys in the west-central part of the block, 7 miles south of Rang Dong oil and gas field, is to be plugged. Rang Dong produces from weathered basement.
The latest well also is 6 miles southeast of Ca Ngu Vang basement oil and gas field, which Block 9-2 operator Hoan Vu Joint Operating Co. declared commercial in early 2006 (OGJ Online, Apr. 26, 2006). SOCO's interest in the block is 25%.
