Lower Magdalena gets gas-condensate discovery

Feb. 15, 2012
Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp., Toronto, said its Cotorra-1X well on the Guama block in Colombia’s Lower Magdalena basin is a gas-condensate discovery in low-permeability Miocene Porquero Medio sands and silts.  

Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp., Toronto, said its Cotorra-1X well on the Guama block in Colombia’s Lower Magdalena basin is a gas-condensate discovery in low-permeability Miocene Porquero Medio sands and silts.

Pacific Rubiales drilled Cotorra-1X following an earlier exploration success on the block, the Pedernalito-1X well drilled in 2010. Cotorra-1X, drilled to 7,210 ft, showed a total of 40 ft of net pay with average 20% porosity.

After clean-up while flowing through a ½-in. choke, Cotorra-1X reached a maximum 7.5 MMcfd of gas and 370 b/d of 56° gravity condensate followed by a three-stage isochronal and one extended flow test on a 12/64-in. choke that flowed at 2.6 MMcfd and 121 b/d at 3,137 psi wellhead pressure.

The well was perforated only in the deeper pay zone, across two intervals, leaving overlying pay zones untested for further evaluation.

Pacific Rubiales said the Cotorra discovery shows the potential of both the Guama block and the Lower Magdalena basin where the company has a large exploration acreage position and is looking to increase its gas reserves to support its initiative to export liquefied natural gas.

Meanwhile, the company plugged and abandoned the Apamate-2X exploratory well on its 100% owned and operated La Creciente block after it failed to test hydrocarbons at economic rates.