Egypt
Centurion Energy International Inc., Calgary, was awarded 75% working interest in the West Manzala and West Qantara blocks in the onshore Nile Delta. The blocks cover a combined 800,000 acres surrounding the company's El Wastani and South Manzala development leases. Those leases are producing 45 MMcfd of gas and 500 b/d of condensate.
Parliament also ratified 5.6 million acre Block 2 in southeastern Egypt's Kom Ombo rift basin, where Centurion is preparing to implement a $2 million work program (OGJ Online, Nov. 26, 2003).
Kazakhstan
Nelson Resources Ltd., Toronto, said drilling and secondary recovery should underpin its oil production in Kazakhstan this year.
Nelson's net Kazakhstan production averaged 4,400 b/d in 2003, up 258% from 2002. Proved and probable reserves were up 57% to 187 million bbl at the end of 2003.
Pilot water injection is to start in Alibekmola oil and gas field in mid-2004. Facilities are under construction. The number of producing wells doubled during the year to 12 at yearend, and Kazakhoil Aktobe LLP drilled 10 wells last year.
Oil production started in December 2003 from Kozhasai oil and gas field. A five-well pilot production project approved last year is to provide geological and reservoir engineering data to support filing a full-field development plan at the end of 2006.
Nelson owns 50% of Kazakhoil Aktobe LLP, a 50-50 joint venture between Nelson and Kazakhstan's state KazMunaiGas, which is developing Alibekmola and Kozhasai fields.
Nelson acquired 50% working interest in North Buzachi field, which produces 4,000 b/d to Nelson's interest. China National Petroleum Corp. operates North Buzachi.
British Columbia
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., Calgary, said it is making the Lower Cretaceous Notikewin formation a primary target in the Fort St. John area of Northeast British Columbia.
During 2003, the company looked at the oft-drilled-through formation with its frequent shows in light of its large acreage position and reduced provincial royalty rates.
This led to development of an extensive play that will add 450 new drilling locations over the next five years. Well cost is about $150,000. CNRL drilled 86 Notikewin shallow wells on the Fort St. John Block in 2003 that are producing at rates of 400 Mcfd to 1 MMcfd, slightly better than expectations.
After Mar. 31, 2004, CNRL acquired $280 million in properties in Northeast BC and Northwest Alberta that included more than 415,000 acres of developed and undeveloped land facilitating the expansion of existing Gething and Notikewin plays and an expanded presence in the Foothills areas of both provinces.
Louisiana
Preston Exploration Co. LP, Woodlands, Tex., sold its 25% working interest in Northwest Myette Point field in St. Mary Parish to an undisclosed purchaser, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2004.
Cumulative production to January 2004 from the field, discovered in 1994, was 155.2 bcf of gas and 10.3 million bbl of condensate from nine wells, mainly from three Lower Miocene Liebusella sands at 16,300-800 ft. Hunt Oil Co., Dallas, has been the field's main operator.
Preston will continue to be an active participant in the exploration for large reserves in South Louisiana, the Texas Gulf Coast, and South Texas. The company will continue to develop its leasehold interest in the South Carthage field area for the Cotton Valley sand in southern Panola County, Texas, and explore for Morrow sands in southeastern New Mexico.
