Calvalley presses oil startup from Yemen's Block 9

Nov. 10, 2005
Calvalley Petroleum Inc., Calgary, hopes to start oil production by yearend from at least 2 wells in Hiswah field on Malik Block 9 in the Sayun-Masila basin.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 10 -- Calvalley Petroleum Inc., Calgary, hopes to start oil production by yearend from at least 2 wells in Hiswah field on Malik Block 9 in the Sayun-Masila basin.

The company has ordered equipment for an early production facility and gathering system for Hiswah's 35° gravity oil and is negotiating to deliver the oil to an export pipeline. Initial output is thought to be around 9,000 b/d.

Oil will be trucked until presumed construction of a 120 km, 50,000 b/d pipeline east to Nexen Inc.'s 150-km, 300,000 b/d pipeline from the Masila fields to Ash Shihr on the Gulf of Aden.

Calvalley declared Block 9's Hiswah, Al Roidhat, and Auqban oil discoveries and Qarn Qaymah gas-condensate find commercial earlier this year (OGJ Online, June 23, 2005).

The company is drilling the horizontal Hiswah-7 well and has tendered for a second drilling rig and a workover unit. It is focusing geological and geophysical appraisal and development activities on the Hiswah structure with particular attention to mapping faults that affect the Saar-Naifa horizon and incorporation of the 3D seismic interpretation.

Preliminary interpretation has been completed on Hiswah's Qishn horizon, and work is in progress on potential re-entry of the Qarn Qaymah discovery well and drilling an appraisal well.

Driving Qarn Qaymah development is potential synergy with the development of 15° gravity oil at Al Roidhat. Block 9 partners are Calvalley 50% interest and Hoodoil Ltd. of Yemen and Reliance Industries Inc. of India 25% interest each.