Colombia
Talisman Energy Inc., Calgary, plans to drill one exploratory well on each of four blocks as part of a companywide record $660 million capital spending program in 2003.
Talisman budged $33 million in spending in Colombia. It plans one well each on the Acevedo Block in the highly prospective thrust belt of the Upper Magdalena Valley and the contiguous Altamizal and Huila Norte blocks to the north.
A well is planned in late 2003 on the Tangara Block in the Llanos basin adjacent to the large Cusiana-Cupiagua discoveries. The well is to test a structure that lies below and in front of the existing producing trend.
Egypt
Rally Energy Corp., Calgary, expects to complete interpretation of a 3D seismic survey over Issaran heavy oil field along the Gulf of Suez in early 2003.
Rally, which acquired former Issaran operator Scimitar Hydrocarbons Corp. in July 2002, is in the midst of a 4-well development program at the field. Issaran averaged 735 b/d in recent months. It started up in March 1998 (OGJ, May 18, 1998, p. 44).
Within 6 months of completing interpretation, Rally has the right to expand its contract land holding at Issaran by 45 sq km to 125 sq km.
Indonesia
CNOOC Ltd. said an appraisal well to the KE 40 discovery on Madura Block in the eastern Java Sea was drilled to 7,225 ft and encountered 174 ft of gas pay in the Kujung I carbonate buildup and 28 ft of oil pay in Oligocene Kujung III limestone.
During drillstem tests on the KE 40-2, pay zones in the Kujung III limestones flowed 1,430 bbl of oil and 6.86 MMcfd of gas on a 64/64 in. choke.
CNOOC has a 25% interest in the block operated by Kodeco Energy Co. Ltd., Seoul (OGJ Online, July 19, 2002).
New Zealand
Coalbed methane is the main objective on 10 permits issued in various parts of the country.
Resource Development Technology LLC, Morrison, Colo., signed on PEP 38605 covering 2,860 sq km along the North Island west coast south of Auckland. The company also holds a permit on northern Taranaki coal fields.
Kenham Holdings Ltd., Christchurch, took PEP 38220 covering 57 sq km near Ohai in the western Southland coal field on the southernmost South Island. Kenham holds 6 other CBM permits.
The government granted Macdonald Investments Ltd., Wellington, an extension on 70 sq km on northern PEP 38508 at the Greymouth coal field on the northwestern South Island.