88 Energy plugs Merlin-2 without testing

88 Energy Ltd. has plugged the Merlin-2 appraisal well on the Alaskan North Slope. The company was unable to obtain hydrocarbon samples due to the lower than anticipated porosity and permeability of the reservoir zones.

The result follows previously encouraging oil shows and logging-while-drilling data that indicated thicker target intervals than encountered in the earlier Merlin-1 well.

Provisional analysis of the wireline logging program indicated that reservoir quality is insufficient to warrant a production test, the company said.

Both wells were drilled on sparse vintage 2D seismic data. The company is considering the merit of future 3D seismic acquisition to better identify drilling locations in its Project Peregrine acreage.

All data from Merlin-2 will be evaluated to determine the next move, including the possibility of finding drilling locations for its Harrier prospect to test the N-14 and N-15 Nanushuk reservoirs.

88 Energy holds 100% interest in Project Peregrine.