Kazakhstan
Aurado Exploration Ltd., Toronto, reported a small, shallow gas discovery at the East Tegen structure on the Liman block in the North Caspian basin.
A water well drilled as part of the East Tegen-1 program flowed 1.8 MMcfd of gas from 126 m and was shut in pending sales to a nearby town.
East Tegen-1 encountered gas at less than 200 m but was not tested. A larger rig was moved in to deepen the well to its primary objective, an oil zone in Albian sands at 600 m.
New Zealand
Todd Energy Ltd., Wellington, was to participate in 8 wells in as many months in the Taranaki basin.
Pohokura South-01 and Pohokura-3 were under way in late 2002. The next offshore effort is Karewa-1 for ConocoPhillips, Inpex Petroleum Ltd., and Todd in PEP 38602 off Raglan harbor targeting a Mangaa sands prospect.
OMV and Todd's Maari-2 appraisal well to Miocene Moki on PEP 38413 is next.
Todd and a Shell unit will drill 2 wells in first quarter 2003 at Kapuni field, one to the productive K1 reservoirs and another targeting a Miocene Mount Messenger amplitude anomaly.
Another early 2003 attempt is Patea West-1 on PEP 38760, to be deviated 1.5 km offshore into PEP 38737 to evaluate a shallow oil prospect. Patea East-1 on PEP 38760 is to go to 1,000-1,100 m seeking oil on the eastern Patea structure.
Trinidad and Tobago
Vermilion Resources Ltd., Calgary, reported its Carapal Ridge natural gas discovery well was brought onstream Dec. 12 for a 6-month test contract.
The well is expected to flow at a gross rate of 20 MMscfd of gas and 700 b/d of condensate. Aventura Energy Inc., a Vermilion Resources subsidiary, operates the well. Petrotrin, the state-owned company of Trinidad and Tobago, owns 35% interest.
Carapal Ridge's production is tied into a Trinidad National Gas Co. gas line. Following the test, the well will be shut in for as long as 3 months to accommodate a pressure build and more reserve analysis, Vermilion said.
Ontario
Greentree Gas & Oil Ltd., London, Ontario, kicked off a multiwell joint venture in the Michigan basin with Huron Oil & Gas Ltd.
The first exploratory well, GGOL Huron-1, projected to 1,250 m in a formation of Cambrian age, was spudded in December.
Huron-2 offsets a recent discovery by Talisman Energy Inc., Calgary, and targets the Ordovician Trenton at 1,000 m, Greentree said. It is to be drilled in January 2003. That drillsite is in Tilbury West Township, Essex County, southeast of Detroit, Mich.
Prince Edward Island
Rally Energy Corp., Calgary, was applying for permits to drill two exploration wells targeting shallow conventional gas on Block 96-06 near Kensington on the west central part of the island.
A third wildcat and two delineation wells might be drilled later in 2003.
The company acquired 127 km of 2D seismic data and 65,917 exploration acres in 2002 to add to its existing 1,200 km of seismic data and 642,136 acres.
Alabama
CDX Gas LLC, Dallas, staked two exploratory tests in Jefferson County in the eastern Black Warrior basin, reports Southeastern Oil Review, Jackson, Miss.
The tests, projected to 6,000 ft, are southwest of Birmingham in 29-18s-5w and 21-19s-5w, 30-35 miles southeast of Jasper gas field.
Oklahoma
Panhandle Royalty Co., Oklahoma City, established a $9 million drilling budget for fiscal 2003 which began Oct. 1, 2002, up 32% from fiscal 2002.
"With extensive fee mineral ownership of 260,000 net acres and reasonable leasehold in active drilling areas, particularly in Oklahoma, we are well positioned to participate in any new activity," the company said.
PRC, which acquired private Wood Oil Co., Tulsa, as of Oct. 1, 2001, holds mineral rights and production in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, and 20 other states.
Texas
Southwest
Exploration Co., San Antonio, proposed a $27.4 million budget to drill or participate in 67 operated and 26 nonoperated wells in 2003, all in the Maverick basin.
Operated drilling is to involve 25 Georgetown wells, 17 Glen Rose shoal horizontal wells, 15 shallow Pena Creek infill locations, and 10 wells in the shallow Comanche Escondido play.
Some $7.8 million will go for TXCO's share of 13 development wells and 13 wildcats on the Comanche lease operated by Saxet Energy Ltd., Houston (OGJ, Nov. 18, 2002, p. 28).