Roc Oil Ltd. started a seven-well development drilling program on the Weizhou 12-8 East oil project of Block 22/12 in the Beibu Gulf offshore China, according to partner Horizon Oil, Sydney.
The program began with the A2H production well using a Strike drilling rig owned by China Offshore Services Ltd. (COSL).
The well will be followed by A3H, A4H, A5H, and A6H production wells into the Jiaowei reservoir, the A1H production well into the Weizhou reservoir, and the A7 well that will target a Weizhou exploration prospect prior to the well being converted into a Jiaowei water disposal well.
Block 22/12 operator is China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC), but JV partner Roc Oil Ltd., (owned by China’s Fosun International) is operating the drilling and early production phases of the WZ12-8 East project. CNOOC will assume operatorship of WZ12-8 East about 6 months after oil production begins.
The drilling program is expected to conclude by the end of July with first oil production expected within the following month.
The WZ12-8 East project represents the first phase of a possible multi-phase development depending on production performance. Phase 1 is targeting the western side of the large Jiaowei reservoir.
The overall project utilizes a self-elevating wellhead platform linked to the existing WZ12-8 West platform via a new pipeline and subsea power cable. Oil is then exported via existing CNOOC infrastructure to the company’s Weizhou terminal.
CNOOC holds 51% interest. Partners are Horizon 26.95%, Roc Oil 19.6%, and Oil Australia Pty Ltd. 2.45%.