Vietnam: Song Hong basin exploratory well to spud

Sept. 5, 2013
A group led by Eni SPA plans to spud the Ca Ngu exploratory prospect in mid-September on Block 120 in the Song Hong basin offshore Vietnam.

A group led by Eni SPA plans to spud the Ca Ngu exploratory prospect in mid-September on Block 120 in the Song Hong basin offshore Vietnam.

Primary objectives are Pliocene clastic reservoirs and a Miocene carbonate reservoir. The 500 sq km of 3D seismic shot in mid-2012 reveals an Oligocene synrift section much thicker than previously thought, said Neon Energy Ltd., Perth, whose Vietnam subsidiary has a 25% interest in the block.

The thicker Oligocene section potentially increases the volume of mature source rock available to generate hydrocarbons and also opens up the possibility of a gas play on the block, Neon Energy said.

The seismic character of the Pliocene objectives suggests a channelized depositional setting, prognosed to contain clastic reservoirs at multiple levels. A number of levels exhibit anomalous seismic amplitudes and strong AVO anomalies that can be indicative of the presence of gas and-or oil.

The Ca Ngu-1 well will target the Miocene carbonate reservoir drilled in the BHP Petroleum 120-CS-1X well drilled 12 km north in 1993. That well confirmed a working petroleum system on Block 120.

Neon Energy said success at Ca Ngu would derisk large prospects such as Rua Bien and-or Ca Lang, which remain on the prospect inventory. The results of this well will also provide velocity information relevant to mapping the deeper Oligocene play and a potentially significant fractured basement play, both of which the joint venture is studying.

The Songa Mercur semisubmersible is to drill Ca Ngu-1 as deep as 1,500 m in 270 m of water. Eni Vietnam BV is operator with 50% interest, and KrisEnergy (Song Hong 105) Ltd. has 25%.