Drilling round starts in western Newfoundland

Operators have kicked off a round of exploratory drilling in western Newfoundland that could involve five or more wells and extend well into 1998.

LMX Resources Ltd., Vancouver, B.C., said that Inglewood Resources Inc., St. John's, on LMX's behalf spudded an 8,000 ft wildcat Nov. 20 at Campbell's Cove on the Port au Port Peninsula.

The Man of War I-42 well is to be deviated southward beneath Block B of the adjacent EL1008 offshore lease under St. George's Bay to test the hydrocarbon potential of the Cambro-Ordovician section of a large onshore/offshore structure (see maps, OGJ, Oct. 27, 1997, pp. 79-80).

LMX through Inglewood will earn a 10% interest in Block A and a 45% interest in Block B. The well will test acreage that Vinland Petroleum Inc., St. John's, farmed out to Inglewood.

Block A consists of 62,430 ha in western EL1008, and Block B covers 116,030 ha in eastern EL1008. Block A interests before the farm-out were Vinland 50%, Talisman Energy Inc. and Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd. 18.75% each, and Oilexco Inc. 12.5%. Vinland held a 100% interest in Block B prior to farm-out.

Drilling contractor, East Coast Drilling Co. Ltd., Stephenville, Newf., will drill a 33/4 in. slim hole using water for circulation. Roughly the bottom 5,000 ft of the hole, below the directional build section, will be continuously cored.

No abnormal pressures are expected, based on results of other deep wells drilled on the peninsula. Aegis Engineering Ltd., St. John's, will handle engineering, and Oil & Gas Consultants International, Tulsa, Okla., is an advisor.

LMX/Inglewood also plan to drill two wells this winter in the Deer Lake basin. LMX will earn a 25% interest in lands currently held 100% by Vinland. Vinland holds blocks 93-103, 93-104, and 96-114, about 50 miles northeast of the Port au Port peninsula. Those wells will also be slim holes with probable TDs of 3,500 ft and 6,000 ft. Seismic surveying begun last winter will be concluded as soon as access is possible.

Port au Port action

Vulcan Minerals, St. John's, plans to drill to about 1,500 m on Block 96-105 southeast of the Port au Port Peninsula in early 1998. First it plans to acquire more seismic data. Vulcan drilled a 150 m strat test on the block in 1996.

As previously reported, PanCanadian Petroleum Ltd. plans a deep well from Shoal Point in Port au Port Bay. This well is to be drilled with a large land rig.

One source indicated Norcen Energy Resources Ltd. might be planning to drill a well. It holds blocks 92-101, 93-105, and 93-106 in the Daniel's Harbor area north of Gros Morne National Park.