Romania

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, May 24 – A group led by Aurelian Oil & Gas PLC tested gas at a stabilized 2.5 MMscfd after frac from the 1650 sand at the Voitinel-1 well on the Brodina block in Romania’s Carpathian basin.

Aurelian discovered the Voitinel/Solca trend, which could have as much as 400 bcf of gas in place, in October 2009 and is carrying out a two-stage appraisal process toward a commercial development. The frac of the 1650 sand is the first appraisal stage.

The second stage is to establish that the estimated absolute volume of gas in place is reasonable. This will be carried out through the testing of the 1400 sand next month, remapping of the structure to incorporate the results of the Voitinel-1 well, shooting 60 line-km of 2D seismic in the second half of 2010, and drilling more appraisal wells in the trend.

The 1650 frac has penetrated past “near wellbore” barriers identified in October 2009 that were constraining connected gas volumes that had caused the flow rate to decline from 3 MMscfd to1.5 MMscfd after 3 days. It is now believed that wells on the Voitinel structure have the potential to produce up to 6 bcf at an average 2.5 MMscfd for the first year.

Aurelian operates the Brodina block with 33.75% interest, SNGN Romgaz SA has 37.5%, and Europa Oil & Gas SRL has 28.75%.