ANOTHER NORTHWEST PALAWAN FIND BOOSTS EXPLORATION OFF PHILIPPINES

A string of recent discoveries has transformed the Philippines area northwest of Palawan Island from a province of minor production from a single trend of small limestone reefs to a proven petroleum province with a variety of field types. A group led by Petrocorp Exploration Ltd. of New Zealand has made the latest significant oil discovery with its first offshore well on GSEC 49 acreage.

March 25, 1991

2 min read

A group led by Petrocorp Exploration Ltd. of New Zealand has made the latest significant oil discovery with its first offshore well on GSEC 49 acreage.

The 1 B Calauit well flowed oil at a rate of more than 3,100 b/d on initial drill stem testing. Kirkland Resources (Holdings) Ltd. of the U.K., one of the partners in the group, said further drill stem testing of other zones of interest has started.

Kirkland said 1B Calauit is a significant discovery in a little drilled area and opens a new trend for follow-up exploration.

Exploration in the Philippines is on an upward trend. Units of BP Exploration and the Royal Dutch/Shell Group have returned to the exploration scene, and Kirkland says that most of the available continental shelf and deeper water areas with proven sedimentary basins have been licensed.

Since 1988 Alcorn (Production) Philippines Inc. has made two discoveries, 1 Galoc and 1A West Linapacan; Occidental Petroleum 1 Camago; and Philodrill 1 Octon (OGJ, Dec. 24, 1990, p. 21).

Kirkland is planning further exploration this spring in GSEC 52, BP plans to drill in GSEC 54, and ARCO will operate in GSEC 51.

Kirkland's interests in GSEC 49 are 19% interest in Area A and 18.4% in Area B.

Partners in the 1B Calauit well are Petrocorp 51.6%, Kirkland 28.5%, Basic Petroleum & Minerals Inc. 4.8%, and Oriental Petroleum & Minerals Corp. 15%.