Area Drilling

Dec. 16, 1996
The BHP Petroleum group has another discovery on the southern side of the Bayu/Undan gas/condensate discovery on Timor Gap Permit ZOCA 91-12 in the Timor Sea. The Trulek 1 encountered a gross 64 m hydrocarbon column and was not tested. Pressure data indicate that Bayu/Undan field extends to the high in the Trulek area and maintains a similar gas/ water contact. The new find will add to reserves, but no new estimates will be made until the Phillips group in the Bayu sector on adjoining Permit

Australia/Indonesia

The BHP Petroleum group has another discovery on the southern side of the Bayu/Undan gas/condensate discovery on Timor Gap Permit ZOCA 91-12 in the Timor Sea.

The Trulek 1 encountered a gross 64 m hydrocarbon column and was not tested. Pressure data indicate that Bayu/Undan field extends to the high in the Trulek area and maintains a similar gas/ water contact.

The new find will add to reserves, but no new estimates will be made until the Phillips group in the Bayu sector on adjoining Permit ZOCA 91-13 drills the Bayu 5 appraisal well on the southeastern sector of the find in January 1997.

The present estimate is 3.3 tcf of gas, 250 million bbl of condensate, and 200 million bbl of LPG. The Phillips and BHPP groups still intend to decide on a unitized development plan by March 1997.

Mexico

Pemex Exploration and Production let a $4-7 million contract to PGS Exploration (U.S.) Inc. to acquire a further 1,300 sq km of 3D seismic data off Tampico.

Two PGS vessels are completing the original 1,470 sq km survey for Pemex in the Sardina area. The extension consists of 413 sq km in the Sardina area and 888 sq km in the Faja de Oro North area 30-40 miles south of Sardina. Completion is set for early January 1997.

Saskatchewan

Tri Link Resources Ltd., Calgary, reports a new oil discovery in the Corning area, about 81 miles southeast of Regina.

The company has drilled 16 wells with 12 oil discoveries. Drilling depths are about 4,200 ft. Tri Link plans to drill up to 12 more wells, including two to four horizontal drilling projects. It has also shot 20 sq miles of 3D seismic.

Tri Link said reserves are about 10 million bbl of medium crude. It plans to spend $35 million to increase Corning production to about 3,000 b/d by March 1998. It holds 300,000 prospective acres in the area. The company produces about 14,000 BDOE, mainly from its Hazelwood field in Saskatchewan.

Montana

Wildcatters will try to extend Mississippian Lodgepole reef oil production from North Dakota (see p. 47).

Winn Exploration, Corpus Christi, and Meridian Oil Inc. plan to drill Lodgepole wildcats in Dawson County, reports Rocky Mountain Oil Journal, Denver.

Winn has a 10,950 ft objective in 19-17n-51e, and Meridian is targeted to 11,000 ft at two exploratory tests in 32-17n-51e.

The sites are near the Towner 1 Dillon, in 29-17n-51e, drilled dry to 10,884 ft in 1982.

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