Gas flows from Empire’s Carpentaria-1 exceed expectations

Empire Energy Ltd., Sydney, recorded stronger-than-expected gas flows from the Carpentaria-1 wildcat in the Beetaloo subbasin of the Northern Territory.

The vertical well, in the company’s 100%-owned permit EP187, flowed gas to surface at an initial peak rate of 0.5 MMcfd and an initial stabilized rate of 0.37 MMcfd during a 72-hour test period. This was followed by an instantaneous peak rate of greater than 1.6 MMcfd after a short shut-in period.

Empire has lodged a discovery notice with the Northern Territory Government.

Fracture stimulation carried out in four zones in the Velkerri formation (Velkerri A, A/B, B, and C shales) created a fracture network within those zones which is liberating flows from the gas-rich target shales.

Empire has yet to process the data required to assess which zone is providing the greatest contribution to flow rates and the relative gas versus liquids composition of each zone. The analysis will be determined in the next few weeks, but the most productive zones will most likely be targeted for future horizontal appraisal drilling, the company said.

The volume of fluid being produced to surface is gradually reducing, indicating the fracture network is being drained of fluids enabling the gas flow, Empire continued.

The proportion of carbon dioxide in the gas stream is less than the measurable lower limit of 1% which is lower than other wells drilled in the Beetaloo where CO₂ content is 1-3%.

Initial results indicate that the shallower liquids-rich gas of the eastern side of the subbasin has the potential for commercial hydrocarbon production in future horizontal wells which may have up to 100 fracture initiation points from 20-30 fracture stimulation stages, rather than the four stages in Carpentaria-1 vertical well, the company said.

Testing is continuing and preparations are being made to drill the first horizontal appraisal well.