Oil Search Ltd., Port Moresby, has plugged its Muruk-2 appraisal well in petroleum development licence 9 (PDL9) in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea following an extended test program.
Oil Search said the well confirmed that natural gas in the Cretaceous-age Toro Sandstone reservoir was in pressure communication with the Muruk-ST3 sidetrack well along structure about 12 km southeast. Cores were cut through the reservoir zone.
Muruk-2 flowed at a maximum rate of 16.5 MMcfd of gas through a 52/64-in. choke. The company added that, as expected, the flow rate was reduced by drilling-induced formation damage caused by mud and other fluid losses into the reservoir.
Pressure gauges have been installed downhole in Muruk-2 to monitor the well during the pressure build-up phase. The company said this information will help to evaluate the overall contingent resources in Muruk field, the southern end of which is only about 20 km away from existing infrastructure at the Hides field associated with the PNG LNG project.
The Muruk-1 gas discovery was made in December 2016. Oil Search operated both Muruk wells on behalf of Esso PNG Juha Ltd.
Interests in Muruk-2 are Oil Search 24.4%, Esso PNG Juha Ltd. 21.7%, Ampolex (PNG) Ltd. 21.7%, Kumul Petroleum Ltd. 20.5%, Nippon PNG LNG LLC 9.7%, and Gas Resources Juha No. 1 Ltd. 2%.
