By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Apr. 24 -- Exxon Neftegas Ltd. (ENL) reported the completion of drilling of the Z-11 well on Sakhalin Island off Eastern Russia to a total measured depth of 37,016 ft—the world's longest measured depth extended-reach drilling (ERD) well, according to parent company ExxonMobil Corp.
The Z-11 well is the 17th ERD producing well to be completed as part of the multiphase Sakhalin-1 project. It was drilled in 61 days, more than 15 days ahead of schedule, and below expected cost with no safety or environmental incidents, ExxonMobil said.
The Sakhalin-1 project includes Chayvo field, which lies 5-7 miles offshore. The Z-11 well was drilled to the Chayvo reservoir from the Yastreb rig—the world's largest land-based drilling rig, ExxonMobil said. Chayvo field reached its peak production rate of 250,000 b/d of oil in February after startup in October 2005.
Since the first Sakhalin-1 well was drilled in 2003, the time required to drill these world-class wells has been reduced by more than half, ExxonMobil said.
ENL holds 30% interest in the Sakhalin-1 project and serves as operator. Other partners are Japan's Sakhalin Oil & Gas Development Co. Ltd. 30%, Rosneft units RN-Astra 8.5% and Sakhalinmorneftegas-Shelf 11.5%, and India's ONGC Videsh Ltd. 20%.