Cuba
Sherritt International Corp., Toronto, said its gross operated production in Cuba for the quarter ended June 30 averaged 30,113 b/d (19,352 b/d net), up from the previous quarter and 10% higher than in first quarter 2001.
The quarterly production hike was due mainly to output from new wells in Yumuri, Canasi, and Seboruco oil fields, the company said. A Canasi development well was successful, and development wells were spudded at Puerto Escondido and Varadero West. Two field wells were returned to production, a Seboruco well was deepened to 4,000 m, and a Yumuri well was re-entered to remove a mechanical obstruction.
Western Australia
Woodside Petroleum Ltd., Perth, tested an important gas discovery in the Bonaparte basin, said partner ENI SPA.
The Blacktip-1 exploratory well 300 km southwest of Darwin cut 339 m of gross hydrocarbon column and flowed a combined 89 MMcfd of gas on three production tests at undisclosed intervals. The well is on northern WA-279-P about 85 km off Western Australia.
Holders of the block are Woodside, Shell Development Pty. Ltd., and ENI.
Kentucky
Blue Ridge Energy Inc., Bowling Green, Ky., and Hay Exploration Inc., Ashland, Ky., formed a joint venture to evaluate, explore, and develop an 18,000-acre leasehold area of mutual interest in the Appalachian basin/Rome trough of eastern Kentucky.
The AMI will be developed on a 50-50 basis combining Hay's scientific and geological expertise with Blue Ridge's technical and drilling capabilities. The companies will equally share future lease acquisition costs, operating costs and production proceeds.
The companies have 35 miles of high quality 2D seismic data acquired across the area plus gravity and aeromagnetic studies. Mapping indicates a very large, well-defined structural trend with four-way closure. Productive potential exists over 16 sq miles with possible numerous pay zones from Corniferous at 1,500 ft through Cambrian Lower Rome at 8,000 ft. The first of several wildcats was to spud in September.
Louisiana
Stone Energy Corp., Lafayette, La., was to start production in late September from the 1 Coignet exploratory well in Cut Off field, Lafourche Parish.
It flowed 7.5 MMcfd of gas and 302 b/d of condensate with 9,400 psi FTP on a 14/64 in. choke from perforations at 15,828-837 ft, establishing the field's deepest pay.
Stone plans more drilling next year. It expressed encouragement at the presence of deep gas productive sands on the structure even though the well did not prove a large productive area on fault block it tested.