China
Husky Energy Inc., Calgary, plans to drill an exploration well in 2007 on Block 04/35 in the East China Sea.
Acquired in 2003, the block covers 4,835 sq km in an average of 100 m of water 350 km east of Shanghai (OGJ Online, Nov. 6, 2003). The work program requires a single exploration well to 2,500 m depth.
Libya
Verenex Energy Inc., Calgary, has an indicated discovery at its first well on Block 47 in the Ghadames basin, northwestern Libya.
The A1-47/02 well reached 10,300 ft and found indications of multiple oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs in Silurian Lower Acacus, the well’s primary target. The well had shows in Acacus while drilling and on wireline logs. Production tests are planned early in the first quarter of 2007.
Drilling was to continue to 10,600 ft to test the Ordovician Memouniat formation.
The Lower Acacus, topped at 9,010 ft, 12 ft higher than prognosis, is 63 ft higher than in Shell’s 1962 B1-70 well 1.2 km northwest. That well found hydrocarbons on a flank of the structure and was never produced.
Verenex operates 6,182 sq km Area 47 with 50% interest, and PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk has the other 50%.
New Mexico
High Plains Petroleum Corp., Boulder, Colo., discovered several shallow oil reservoirs while drilling a development well in Rio Puerco field in the eastern San Juan basin.
San Isidro 16-8, in 16-20n-3w, Sandoval County, found oil in the Menefee member of the Cretaceous Mesaverde formation, the Point Lookout sandstone, and the Mancos shale.
The well encountered oil and gas in a 188-ft interval of Mesaverde and in three sands at the top of Mancos.
The sands in the Mancos represent a new oil producing zone for the basin, High Plains said, and immediate development is planned. San Isidro 16-8 will continue drilling to the fractured Gallup formation.
High Plains and partners hold more than 3,900 acres of leases that have Gallup potential.