Oil Search Ltd., Port Moresby and Sydney, has reported a successful appraisal of the Kimu gas discovery in the forelands of Papua New Guinea.
Kimu-2, drilled in retention license PRL 8, showed similar reservoir properties to the Kimu-1 discovery with the bonus of slightly thicker reservoir (OGJ Online, May 22, 2017).
The company said the well objective was to test the potential resource upside in the field and assist in selecting the optimal commercialization pathway.
Kimu-2 found gas in the target Cretaceous-age Alene reservoir. Provisional interpretation also noted that the reservoir appears to be in pressure communication with the discovery well.
Cores and logs were acquired and a drillstem test undertaken resulting in a measured continuous flow rate of 34.5 MMcfd of gas during a 72-hr test period through a 1-in. choke.
Kimu-2 will now be plugged as planned. Evaluation of the well data has already begun.
Kimu field was discovered by Oil Search in 1999. Additional seismic data were acquired in 2016 that indicated the potential for a field extension to the west. Consequently, Kimu-2 was drilled 3.8 km west of Kimu-1.
The retention lease PRL 8 straddles the western and gulf provinces of Papua New Guinea and is 80 km south of Lake Kutubu.
Oil Search has 83% interest and operatorship of the field. Kumul Gas Niugini has the remaining interest.
