By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 30 -- Gulfsands Petroleum PLC said it intends to move rapidly to commercialize its Khurbert East discovery after it achieved a successful open-hole drillstem test of the first appraisal well on Block 26 in northeastern Syria.
The strong flow rate achieved on test from the Khurbet East-2 (KHE-2) well plus the geologic and reservoir data gained from both the KHE-1 discovery and KHE-2 wells indicate that the Khurbet East discovery should be highly economic in the context of low development costs, proximity to production infrastructure, and a favorable production-sharing contract in the block, Gulfsands said.
The company also plans to acquire a 3D seismic survey over Khurbet East starting in September to optimize future drilling locations and facilitate a strategy for early development and production.
The KHE-2 appraisal well encountered the Massive Formation at 1,931 m deep, and Gulfsands commenced the DST of about the top 10 m of the fractured reservoir, which resulted in oil flow to surface at a maximum rate of 1,085 b/d during nitrogen lift of the well.
During the test period following the nitrogen lift, the average flow rate was 710 b/d of oil increasing to a final rate of 820 b/d.
Preliminary test assessment indicates excellent formation permeability and that the production rate would be materially enhanced with artificial lift methods—all wells in the Massive Formation on Block 26 go onto artificial lift relatively soon after initial production, Gulfsands said.
The early assessment also suggests that oil gravity is 26°—virtually identical to the oil produced in Souedieh field, 12 km to the northeast, the company said. Oil samples from the test have been submitted for laboratory analysis, but this preliminary assessment is consistent with the oil recovered from Massive Formation in the KHE-1 well.
"The test of oil from the Massive formation confirms the excellent flow potential of this reservoir and the lateral continuity of the reservoir between the KHE-1 [discovery] and KHE-2 [appraisal] wells." Net oil pay greater in KHE-2 than in KHE-1 "indicates a deeper oil-water contact than previously expected, thereby increasing the reserves potential in this reservoir," said Gulfsands Chief Executive John Dorrier.
After the DST Gulfsands continued drilling KHE-2 to a TD of 2,050 m. Independent wireline log analysis of the Massive reservoir indicates a gross oil column of 49 m, with about 29 m of net oil pay, compared with the lower figures of 31 m and 22.5 m respectively in the KHE-1 well.
The KHE-2 well also encountered the Tertiary Chilou B Formation. However, preliminary analysis suggests the presence of water and residual or immoveable oil, or a relatively low permeability reservoir. Consistent with other wells drilled in the area, the Chilou B is considered to have minor resource potential compared with the Cretaceous and Triassic reservoirs at Khurbet East.
Additionally, in parallel with the planned seismic acquisition program, Gulfsands will begin appraisal of the Kurrachine Dolomite and draft the further field appraisal program and the initial development plan for implementation as soon as possible. The company also will continue further exploration on the block, following up on the Khurbet East discovery.