Morocco
Onarep signed a 12-month reconnaissance contract with Conoco (UK) Ltd. for its Mediterranean offshore territory.
The Al Hoceima-Nador block covers 26,400 sq km from the Algerian border to nearly Gibraltar.
New Zealand
Anschutz Corp., Denver, won rights to explore PEP 38257 offshore in the Canterbury basin and plans to acquire 750 km of 2D seismic as early as midyear.
The block covers 17,856 sq km from the southern end of the Banks Peninsula to just north of the Waitaki River. It extends as far as 200 km from shore (OGJ, Dec. 15, 1997, p. 57).
South Africa
Forest Oil Corp., Denver, is exploring in the Orange basin near the ocean border with Namibia.
Block 1 covers 5 million acres and contains an undeveloped discovery that flowed 35 MMcfd of gas. Block 1 lies north of Block 2.
A 3D seismic survey was completed in late 1999 on Block 2 over the AK gas discovery, which flowed 50 MMcfd. Forest estimates that commerciality of both blocks will be reached at a combined 200 MMcfd of gas production capacity.
Forest operates both blocks with 70% interest, and Anschutz Overseas Corp. holds 30%.
Yemen
The Yemeni affiliate of Vintage Petroleum Inc., Tulsa, Okla., spudded a wildcat on the An Naeem structure on Block S-1.
Vintage is to earn 75% interest from TransGlobe Energy Corp., Calgary, by drilling three wildcats on structures identified by 3D seismic data acquired in 1999.
The first well is 3 km from Hunt Oil Co.-operated Halewah field, where 12 wells produce 25,000 bo/d.
Alberta
PetroCanada completed a horizontal well in Devonian Turner Valley in the foothills area.
The 11-18 Basing 4-19-48-20 w5m flowed 26 MMcfd of gas at 2,300 psi flowing wellhead pressure from 15,189 ft measured depth, 12,461 ft true vertical depth. PetroCorp. Inc., Tulsa, Okla., whose Canadian subsidiary holds a 9% working interest, said the flow is one of the best initial rates in the trend. Production was to start in March.
Mobil Oil Canada and Talisman Energy participated in this well. A 28-sq-mile 3D seismic survey is under way in the area.
Mississippi
Sligo and Rodessa sands are producing at a salt dome discovery in Covington County.
Key Production Co., Denver, gauged the 1 Miller-Langston, in 28-8n-15w, on the Kola salt dome. It flowed 9.1 MMcfd of gas with 456 b/d of condensate on a 26/64 in. choke with 2,200 psi flowing wellhead pressure without treatment from 52 ft of net pay perforated at 14,390-510 ft.
Mapping based on 3D seismic data indicates several other prospective locations around the dome, Key said.
Working interests include Key 35.3%, Miller Exploration Co. 16.7% and Remington Oil & Gas Corp. 16%.
Texas
East
Cross Timbers Oil Co., Fort Worth, Tex., plans to drill 15-20 wells to Jurassic Cotton Valley lime and Bossier sand this year in Freestone field, Freestone County.
The company completed four such wells in 1999 that averaged 4 MMcfd/ well using low-cost fracturing techniques. Well depths are about 13,000 ft.
Cross Timbers, which has 10,000 net acres held by production in the trend, is adding acreage. It has identified numerous Bossier recompletion opportunities and believes it could have as many as 100 Bossier sand locations in the trend.
