Jupiter wildcat finds hydrocarbons off Sierra Leone

Feb. 21, 2012
An Anadarko Petroleum Corp. group has encountered hydrocarbons at the Jupiter-1 exploratory well on Block SL-07B-11 offshore Sierra Leone.

An Anadarko Petroleum Corp. group has encountered hydrocarbons at the Jupiter-1 exploratory well on Block SL-07B-11 offshore Sierra Leone.

Jupiter is the group’s third discovery in the Liberian basin and “provides further support for the stratigraphic play in the region. The presence of a working petroleum system producing gas and light oil in the basin is encouraging,” said partner Tullow Oil PLC.

The group is drilling Kosrou-1 off Ivory Coast and will further test the play by drilling Mercury-2 off Sierra Leone.

Jupiter went to a total depth of 6,465 m in 2,199 m of water more than 25 km west of the group’s Mercury oil discovery. Jupiter cut 30 m of hydrocarbon pay in the primary Upper Cretaceous objective and did not encounter a hydrocarbon-water contact. The well is preserved for possible reentry as further evaluation is likely needed.

The Transocean Discoverer Spirit drillship will move 15 km northeast of Jupiter to drill Mercury-2, which will target several reservoir levels including extensions of the oil accumulations discovered by the Mercury-1 well.

Anadarko is operator of Block SL-07B-11 with 55% interest. Repsol YPF has 25%, and Tullow has 20%.