CGX Frontera JV discovers light oil, gas condensate offshore Guyana

May 10, 2022
CGX Energy and Frontera Energy said independent studies support initial interpretations that Kawa-1 exploration well offshore Guyana discovered light oil in the Santonian and Coniacian and gas condensate in the Maastrichtian and Campanian.

CGX Energy Inc. and Frontera Energy Corp. said independent, third-party studies support the joint venture’s initial interpretations from cuttings, mud gas, and annulus fluid analysis that the Kawa-1 exploration well offshore Guyana discovered light oil in the Santonian and Coniacian and gas condensate in the Maastrichtian and Campanian. 

The findings also derisk the forthcoming Wei-1 exploration well, expected to be spud in this year’s third quarter subject to rig release from a third-party operator, the JV said in a May 10 release.

Kawa-1 well was drilled in water depth of 355 m (1,174 ft) to a total depth of 6,577 m (21,578 ft) in the northern portion of the block.

The joint venture encountered hydrocarbons in multiple zones extending from 4,638 m (15,216 ft) in the Maastrichtian to 6,568 m (21,547 ft) in the Coniacian. Essentially every sand encountered over this interval indicated the presence of hydrocarbons, the companies said in a May 10 release.

A total of 69 m (228 ft) of net pay was found distributed throughout the Maastrichtian (68 ft/21 m), Campanian (66 ft/20 m), Santonian (76 ft/23 m), and Coniacian (18 ft/5 m) horizons with individual pay zones up to 11 m (35 ft) thick.

The JV is integrating detailed seismic and lithological analysis and pore pressure studies from Kawa-1 into preparations of Wei-1, which is to be drilled 14 km northwest of Kawa-1 in the same block, some 200 km offshore Georgetown, in water depth of 583 m (1,912 ft) to a targeted total depth of 6,248 m (20,500 ft). The well will target Campanian and Santonian aged stacked channels in a western channel complex in the northern section of the block.

Data from Kawa-1 and Wei-1 will inform future activities and potential development decisions. Opportunities to obtain additional drilling financing are being assessed.