BW Energy: Hibiscus North reserves below pre-drill estimates

Sept. 2, 2021
BW Energy said planning for the next phase Hibiscus/Ruche development remains on track, but wireline logging operations and fluid sampling showed the recent oil discovery at Hibiscus North offshore Gabon showed lower volumes of hydrocarbons than expected.

BW Energy Ltd. said planning for the next phase Hibiscus/Ruche development remains on track, but wireline logging operations and fluid sampling showed the recent oil discovery at Hibiscus North in the Dussafu block offshore Gabon showed lower volumes of hydrocarbons than expected.

BW Energy concluded the drilling and the logging of the exploration well, Hibiscus North (DHBNM-1) (OGJ Online, Aug. 24, 2021). The well lies in a separate structure, some 6 km north-northeast of the Hibiscus discovery in 115 m of water depth. The well was drilled to 3,336 m TD. Oil-bearing reservoir was encountered in the Upper Gamba sandstone and in the deeper Dentale formation.

Pending further analysis, the preliminary results indicate that the field could be incorporated into future development planning with a possible tie back to the Hibiscus Ruche development but with reserves below the lower end of the pre-drill resource estimate of 10-40 million bbl of oil, the company said in a Sept. 2 release.

The existing Hibiscus 2P gross recoverable reserves of 46.1 million bbl established by the Hibiscus well (DHIBM-1) and its appraisal sidetrack, drilled in 2019, remain unaffected and will form the core of the upcoming Hibiscus/Ruche development project, the company said.

The Borr Norve jack up is now continuing to finalize drilling operations and the well will then be plugged.

BW Energy is operator of the 850-sq km Dussafu block with 73.5% interest. Panoro Energy holds 17.5% and the Gabonese Oil Co. holds 9%.