Gabon

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Mar. 1 – Maurel & Prom, Paris, said the OMOC-N-1 on the Onal onshore production license in Gabon pumped 33.4° gravity oil at the rate of 1,700 b/d from a 111-m column in Cretaceous Kissenda.

The rate, gauged on the eastern edge of Gabon’s coastal basin, was limited by the pump’s capacity.

Maurel & Prom has encountered the Kissenda play at the Omko, Omoe, Omal, and Omoc discoveries on the Omoueyi permit, where it holds 100% interest. Previous exploration focused on the Gres de Base formation.

Maurel & Prom operates Onal with 85% interest. Tullow Oil PLC and AIC-Petrofi each holds 7.5%.

Meanwhile, Maurel & Prom is moving the rig that drilled the nonproductive Tie-Tie-NE-1 well on the La Noumbi exploration license in Congo (Brazzaville) 20 km west to drill the Banio-5 development well at Banio oil field, which has been on production for more than 2 years.

Tie-Tie-NE-1 went to a total depth of 2,550 m in Lower Cretaceous Djeno, where a siltstone interval at 1,775-1,875 m had strong gas shows that proved noncommercial due to distance from markets.

The well provided valuable information in a region where geological data are old and inadequate, said Maurel & Prom, operator of La Noumbi with 49% interest. The well’s data could prove useful at Banio, the company said.