Uchenna Izundu
International Editor
LONDON, June 10 -- PA Resources AB, Stockholm, has spudded another well on its wholly owned Didon field off Tunisia. The horizontal oil producer Didon-9 is being drilled into the western compartment, which is expected to hold recoverable oil.
Didon, on the Zarat block, is 75 km west of the Tunisia-Libya border in 75 m of water. Last March the field's average production was 20,000 b/d of oil.
The well is being drilled by the Ensco 85 jack up through a slot on the Didon platform.
The rig recently completed the Didon-7 horizontal production well, which is now producing 12,500 b/d of oil. The field's reserves will be increased after Didon-7's pilot hole encountered the top reservoir 5 m higher than originally estimated.
Wire line logs and pressure data confirmed good reservoir properties and a 30-m oil column, PA Resources said. A 500-m long drain was completed within the two upper layers of the reservoir at a horizontal level of 2,714 m, it added. Didon-7's length was 4,015 m.
The Didon-5 well, which was shut in before the Didon-7 start-up, is being hooked up for production and is also expected to resume operations by the end of June.
The Didon-9 well also will be a horizontal oil producer in the crestal area of the western compartment on the field. A vertical pilot hole will first be drilled to confirm reserves and gather data, including pressure and saturation profiles, which will provide information on oil-water contact. Data also will be used to determine the optimal placement of the Didon-9 horizontal well, after which the horizontal production drain will be drilled, the company said.
"This new well Didon-9 is expected to recover oil from the western compartment and contribute with additional reserves and production capacity," said PA Resources Pres. and Chief Executive Officer Ulrik Jansson.
Upon completion of Didon-9, the Ensco 85 will continue with the exploration drilling program on the Zarat permit, including the Didon North prospect.
Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].
