Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent
LOS ANGELES, July 30 – The government of Brunei and Total E&P Borneo are preparing to spud the MLJ2-06 well 50 km off the island of Borneo.
The MLJ2-06 well is about 25 km from Champion oil field, where Brunei Shell Petroleum Co. Sdn. Bhd. (BSP) last year reported the start of a third phase of oil production (OGJ, Jan. 16, Newsletter).
Brunei Energy Minister Pehin Dato Awang Haji Yahya said the MLJ2-06 well could be "one of the most challenging" ever drilled in Southeast Asia because of high temperatures and pressures and environmental controls.
Total's drilling manager, Yannick Marcillat, said the MLJ2-06 is one of Total's most challenging wells in the region because it is deeper and has greater pressure than the firm's other wells.
"This particular well has a very high pressure with 17,000 psi, and we have to be very careful when the pressure comes to the surface," Marcillat said. "Besides, it is hotter at 170° C. so it is a bit complicated when we run electronic equipment as the temperature is very high for the equipment."
The Maersk Completer jack up rig, built in Singapore and towed to Brunei, will drill the well. It has been prepared for high-pressure, high-temperature drilling.
According to Marcillat, the rig is under a 1-year contract, with 170 days scheduled for the MLJ2-06 well and the remainder of the time for other projects in the region. The MLJ2-06 is to be drilled to 22,000 ft.
Contact Eric Watkins at [email protected].
