Uchenna Izundu
International Editor
LONDON, Nov. 1 -- London exploration and production company Regal Petroleum PLC will suspend its RBN-4 exploration well on the Barland concession in Romania after discovering gas in three sandstone intervals.
Regal said the gas lay within 11 m of net reservoir in the Sarmatian formation. "Additional gas-bearing siltstone intervals of approximately 14 m have also been identified at a level known to be productive in the nearby Roman gas field," the company added. RBN-4 reached 973 m TD, and it will be completed and flow-tested with a lighter, less costly, workover rig. Regal expects to mobilize the rig by yearend.
Neil Ritson, Regal's chief executive, said it is too early to quantify the volume of gas discovered or determine whether a commercial flow rate can be achieved, but "the results of the well are similar to those expected and are encouraging."
The Dafora F-100 drilling rig will now rill the second exploration well RBN-3, about 5 km northwest of RBN-4. "The RBN-3 well is also planned to evaluate a Sarmatian formation gas prospect," Regal added. It expects to spend $1.1 million drilling the well over 20 days.
Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].