Colombia
PetroNova Inc., Calgary, has spudded Canelo Sur-2, first exploratory well on the PUT-2 block in the Putumayo basin in Colombia.
PetroNova, operator with a 75% working interest in the block, said the well "targets a robust four-way closure, the first of several on-trend structures identified in the eastern part of the block." Suroco Energy Inc., Calgary, holds the other 25% interest.
The well is to be drilled directionally from a three-well pad to 10,300 ft measured depth, 9,900 ft true vertical depth, with the Cretaceous Villeta formation as the primary target. Drilling time is put at 45 days.
Kazakhstan
Aral Petroleum Capital LP has tested Well 306 in East Zhagabulak field on its 100% owned 380,000-acre North Block in the North Caspian basin in Kazakhstan at the rate of 579 b/d of oil.
The well's output boosts total production from the tract to 869 b/d, said Pacific Energy Development Co., Danville, Calif. The company said it is in contract to acquire an indirect 34% interest in Aral, subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
Due to the success of the initial target interval's test, Aral decided to defer the test of two more target intervals of Well 306 and instead to perforate and acidize the previously untested Well 315 and frac and acidize Well 316, each drilled in 2012, and then rework certain upper objectives of Well 308.
Madagascar
Seismic contractors TGS and BGP have begun shooting multiclient 2D seismic, gravity, and magnetic surveys offshore northwestern Madagascar utilizing the M/V Challenger vessel.
The MAJ-13 and MS-14 surveys will add 7,025 km of new 2D seismic data to extend and infill the existing 33,315 km of 2D data previously acquired by TGS in the region.
TGS will process the data using broadband processing technology. Final data will be available to clients from the third quarter of 2014.
Norway
Lundin Petroleum AB, Stockholm, said its Norwegian affiliate has completed the Johan Sverdrup 16/3-7 appraisal well in the southeastern part of PL501 offshore Norway.
The well encountered 50 m of gross reservoir slightly deeper than expected. The reservoir consists of 14 m of excellent quality sandstone of late Jurassic age and 36 m of dolomitic carbonates of Permian age with good reservoir properties.
The well showed a good common water gradient in both the sandstone and carbonates, demonstrating good communication between the two reservoirs. The oil-water contact was not proven, but oil and water were sampled in the uppermost part of the reservoir, at 1,925 m below mean sea level, which indicates an oil-water contact close to this level and that the well was positioned near the edge of the field. Total depth is 2,075 m.
The wellsite is at the southeastern flank of the Johan Sverdrup discovery 3 km southeast of the 16/3-5 well and 4 km southwest of the 16/3-2 exploratory well. The Bredford Dolphin semisubmersible will now drill the 16/5-5 appraisal well in PL410, also operated by Lundin Norway. PL501 interests are Lundin Norway AS and Statoil Petroleum AS 40% each and Maersk Oil Norway AS 20%.
