DNO International ASA will replace a 4.3-km section of the 12-in. pipeline between the West Bukha and Bukha platforms offshore Oman after efforts to clear a blockage failed.
West Bukha production is expected to be restored within 6 weeks. The blockage occurred during routing pigging in late March, when the field had been producing 7,000 b/d of oil and liquids and 25 MMcfd of gas.
The temporary halt will result in lower production in the second and third quarters, DNO said. Once production is restored and West Bukha-5 brought on stream, the company believes that the overall cash from Block 8 operations in 2012 should not be materially affected with the accelerated recovery of the deferred production.
Meanwhile, the company has drilled the West Bukha-5 development well on and is preparing to resume operations at West Bukha-4, whose top hole section was previously drilled.
West Bukha-5 has estimated flow capacity of 1,500-2,000 b/d of oil from the Thamama reservoir. Samples and measurements indicate an oil gravity of 35° and a gas-oil ratio of 5,000 scf/bbl.
The measurements are somewhat uncertain as the well is cleaning up and only about a third of the cumulative spent acid has been recovered, but they are consistent with values observed in neighboring wells. Cleanup operations will be resumed and the well put on production later this summer once pipeline operations resume.
West Bukha-5 is the first of a three-well development drilling campaign in Block 8. The well went to 5,200 m measured total depth including a 700-m horizontal section with good fracture indications and is the company’s longest penetration yet in Oman. Three intervals in the horizontal section were acidized and stimulated. The shallower Wasia interval has not been perforated.
Following completion of West Bukha-4, the Noble Roy Rhodes rig will move to drill a third well at Bukha gas-condensate field, which has continued deliveries without interruption at more than 20 MMcfd of gas and 1,000 b/d of liquids.
