Pacific Rubiales discovers more oil in Colombia

Oct. 2, 2008
Exploratory well RUB-147 was drilled in the northwestern area of the Rubiales Block in the "Buffer Zone" —a 5 km strip that surrounds the adjoining Rubiales and Piriri Blocks.

Eric Watkins
Oil Diplomacy Editor

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 2 -- Exploratory well RUB-147 was drilled in the northwestern area of the Rubiales Block in the "Buffer Zone" —a 5 km strip that surrounds the adjoining Rubiales and Piriri Blocks.

"The petrophysical information not only confirmed the discovery of new oil, but also provides evidence of the presence of hydrocarbons in the contiguous Quifa Block," Pacific Rubiales Energy said.

It said the well, drilled in the "D" prospect, found the top of the basal sandstones at a depth of 2,914 ft and the oil-water contact at 2,970 ft, resulting in a oil column of 56 ft at the well.

Since the crest of the structure at prospect D is at 2,904 ft, the resulting total column for the structure is 66 gross ft.

"The petrophysical evaluation of the well indicates a net pay zone of 35 ft with porosities over 30%," the firm said.

Once properly evaluated, the results will extend the known reservoir into this area and will also give a clear indication of the prospectivity of the Quifa Block, since 25% of the structure discovered by this well stretches into that block.

The Quifa Block is an exploratory block in which the company holds 60%, in association with Ecopetrol 40%.

The company said it has completed well RUB-147 as a vertical producer and is now planning to test the well, which has shown initial rates of 200-250 b/d of oil.

In September, Pacific Rubiales said it expects to increase its estimates of original oil in place and ultimate recovery at Rubiales field after three newly drilled wells found much thicker net pay than expected (OGJ Online, Sept. 9, 2008).

Earlier, Pacific Rubiales Energy and Ecopetrol SA awarded a contract to Consorcio Rubiales-Monterrey, a joint venture of Spiecapag and Ismocol, for the construction of a 24-in., 235-km pipeline to connect Rubiales oil field to the OCENSA pipeline (OGJ Online, Sept. 3, 2008).

Contact Eric Watkins at [email protected].

http://www.ogj.com/display_article/338631/120/ARTCL/none/Trasp/1/Colombian-oil-line-to-link-Rubiales-field/