Pluspetrol SA, Buenos Aires, plans to invest $30 million this year for a drilling program on Peru's northern jungle Block 8 and 8X, operated by state-owned petroleum company Petroperu SA until July 1996.
Pluspetrol is the operator of the blocks with 60% of the contract in association with South Korean companies Korea Petroleum Development Corp., Daewoo Corp., and Yukong Ltd., after winning an auction for the contracts held by Petroperu SA as part of the state company's privatization.
Pluspetrol will drill six development wells on Block 8 and two exploratory wells on Block 8X.
Drilling plans
Drilling contractor Petrex SA, a joint venture of Italy's Saipem SpA and a Peruvian company, completed the first development well in Corrientes oil field, which flowed on test at a rate of 1,000 b/d. It will drill another five wells in Pavayacu field.
Corrientes and Pavayacu fields, developed in 1974-78 in the Maranon basin, are Block 8's main producing fields.
Pluspetrol has let contract to Parker Drilling Co., Tulsa, to drill two exploratory wells to probe the Sungaroyacu Norte and Aguaje structures, beginning in August. The company in May produced an average 25,461 b/d of oil-about the same that Petroperu was producing a year earlier-but aims to boost output with the new wells.
Pluspetrol is also exploring Block 79 in the Ucayali basin near the Aguaytia gas fields and is negotiating with Perupetro SA for a contract covering well rehabilitation, development, and further exploration on northern coast Block XII.
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