Apache Corp. and partner Total SA have identified 79 m of net oil and gas condensate pay offshore Suriname at the Sapakara West-1 well on Block 58. The discovery is the second ‘significant’ oil discovery on the block following the Maka Central-1 discovery in January, Apache said Apr. 2 (OGJ Online, Jan. 7, 2020). The partners will conduct additional tests to appraise the resources and productivity of the reservoir.
Drilled by the Noble Sam Croft drilling facility to a depth of 6,300 m, the well encountered oil and gas condensate in two distinct upper Cretaceous intervals (Campanian, Santonian).
The third and fourth exploration well locations in Block 58 have been identified.
Preliminary fluid samples and test results indicate the shallower Campanian interval contains 13 m of net gas condensate and 30 m of net oil pay, with API oil gravities of 35-40 degrees. The deeper Santonian interval contains 36 m of net oil-bearing reservoir with API oil gravities of 40-45 degrees.
“Based on a conservative estimate of net pay across multiple fan systems, we have discovered another very substantial oil resource with the Sapakara West-1 well,” said John J. Christmann, Apache chief executive officer and president. “Importantly, our data indicates that the Sapakara West-1 well encountered a distinct fan system that is separate from the Maka Central-1 discovery we announced in January this year.”
Block 58 comprises 1.4 million acres and offers significant potential beyond the discoveries at Sapakara West and Maka Central. Apache has identified at least seven distinct play types and more than 50 prospects within the thermally mature play fairway.
Upon completion of operations at Sapakara West-1, the Sam Croft will move to the third prospect in Block 58, Kwaskwasi, which lies 10 km northwest of Sapakara West-1. The fourth exploration target is Keskesi, which will be drilled 20 km southeast of Sapakara West-1. Both will test oil-prone upper Cretaceous targets in the Campanian and Santonian intervals in reservoirs that appear to be independent from the Maka and Sapakara discoveries.
Apache is operator of Block 58 with 50%. Total holds the remaining 50%. Total will become operator of the block after the drilling of the fourth well (OGJ Online, Dec. 23, 2019).
