Valeura’s Bati Gurgen-1 finds gas in Turkey’s Thrace basin

Valeura Energy Inc.’s first exploration well on its wholly owned and operated Banarli license flowed at an initial restricted rate of 3.4 MMcfd on a 24-hr production test. Originally awarded in April 2014, the 118,598-acre license is near the center and deepest part of the basin (OGJ Online, Apr. 8, 2013).

Valeura, based in Calgary, announced in December 2015 that it drilled its first two exploration wells. The first well, Bati Gurgen-1, was drilled to a measured depth of 2,735 m into the top of the Teslimkoy member of the Mezardere formation and was cased to a measured depth of 2,729 m. Log analysis indicated 32 m of aggregate net gas pay at an average porosity of 19.6% in multiple stacked sands in the Danismen and Osmancik formations. The well also penetrated several overpressured, thinner, and tighter stacked sands in the Mezardere formation.

The company perforated 13 m of conventional stacked sands in the Osmancik formation below 1,480 m to carry out the production test. In addition to 3.4 MMcf of gas produced during the test’s 24-hr period, the well flowed 15 bbl of condensate, and minimal water through a 36/64-in. choke and a final flowing wellhead pressure of 1,307 psi. The company expects the Danismen formation will be completed within one or two months after Bati Gurgen-1 is on production to permit further performance monitoring of the Osmancik formation alone.

The Bati Gurgen-1 well is currently shut in and awaiting completion of the pipeline tie-in to the dehydration facility at the Gurgen-1 well (Valeura 40% working interest) about 3 km to the southeast on the joint-venture lands acquired from Thrace Basin Natural Gas (Turkiye) Corp. and Pinnacle Turkey Inc.

The company’s second wholly owned exploration well, Yayli-1, was drilled to a measured depth of 2,914 m into the Teslimkoy member of the Mezardere formation and was cased to 2,910 m. Log analysis indicated 14 m of aggregate net gas pay at an average porosity of 15% in several stacked sands in the Osmancik 2 formation. The well also penetrated multiple overpressured, tighter-stacked sands in a series of interpreted coalesced basin floor fans in the Teslimkoy.

The company plans to complete and test the Teslimkoy at 2,850-2,875 m, but must first retrofit the wellhead to increase its pressure rating to 10,000 psi from 5,000 psi due a similar overpressure to the Bati Gurgen-1. Completion should take place by late January, the company said.

Provisions also are being made to tie in the Yayli-1 well to a junction at the Bati Gurgen-1 well. First gas from Banarli is targeted for the end of January.