Byron Energy successfully drilled and logged South Marsh Island Block 58 G2 sidetrack (SM58 G2ST) in the US Gulf of Mexico. The well targeted the Brown Trout prospect which is updip to two historical Shell wells with combined production of about 2.6 million bbl oil, 5.8 bcf, and 3.4 million bbl water. The prospect was previously identified by both Shell and Apache and drilled without success.
SM58 G2ST reached final total depth on Oct. 4. The well was drilled to a total depth of 7,720 ft MD/7,035 ft TVD. Logging While Drilling (LWD), gamma ray, and resistivity tools indicate SM58 G2ST penetrated a 280 ft gross thickness hydrocarbon section in the targeted Upper O Sand with no water contact in the interval. Additionally, mud-log analysis showed dull yellow streaming oil cuts with associated fluorescence throughout a large portion of the O Sand interval along with heavier gas fractions on the mudlog gas chromatograph.
A final net pay count cannot be provided until porosity logs are obtained using Pulse Neutron Logs (PNL) after casing is run and cemented. However, LWD gamma ray and resistivity tools indicate about 50-60% net to gross sand ratio which is typical for the Upper O Sand in the area around SM58. The LWD logs also indicate two, or possibly three, distinct sand lobes. The thickness and presence of multiple lobes of sand is in line with pre-drill expectations and Byron has made the decision to run production casing.
The well is being conditioned to run and cement 7-in. casing before completion operations can begin. Final perforation intervals and sand control measures will be designed based on the cased hole logs. Completion operations are expected to take about 3 weeks depending on the scope of work and will then be followed by 3-5 days of topside flowline hook up work before the well can be placed into production through Byron’s SM58 platform.
The current plan is to release the rig during the winter months and renew drilling operations in early March 2021 to avoid the worst weather months in the gulf and ensure that the company can fund the drilling program though cash flow.
Byron Energy is operator of South Marsh Island Block 58 with 100%.
