Kish, New Energy Hub in Persian Gulf
By Mahnaz Mohammadi
Kish gas filed is located 30 kilometers east of Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf waters. It was discovered in 1968 following 2D seismic operations. Kangan and Dalan gas reservoirs are located at the depths of 3,200 meters to 5,000 meters beneath this island.
Kangan reservoir, measuring 32 kilometers in length and 25 kilometers in width, is estimated to have a gas column more than 1,200 meters thick. The reservoir pressure at the depth of 3,850 meters is 7,378 pounds per square meter. According to Petroleum Engineering and Development Company (PEDEC) which is operating the project, the field is estimated to contain 38.3 tcf of gas and 398 million barrels of gas condensate.
The first well in this gas field has already been drilled by a foreign company to help assess the hydrocarbon capacity of Asmari horizon, Bangestan group, Khami and Dehrom. The 2,000-meter well never yielded any hydrocarbon reservoir, and drilling operations were abandoned midway.
The first exploration well in this field was drilled in September 1968 and it continued up to the depth of 2,621 meters, but no oil or gas was found.
More seismic tests were conducted on the reservoir before the drilling of a second appraisal well started in January 2005. After 4,409 meters of drilling, water was seen and drilling stopped two years later. Further tests proved the existence of sweet gas in Kangan, Upper Dalan, Lower Dalan and Naar formations.
According to estimates, Kish gas field holds more than 60 tcf of gas in place. It could be developed in six phases. Currently, development of this field is under way in three phases. The gas recovered in this stage is destined for exports. The field is also estimated to contain 514 million barrels of gas condensate. A master development plan (MDP) has been designed for this field and the wells drilled by National Iranian Drilling Company for the first phase development of this field are close to completion.
In this phase, 12 new development wells are being drilled and Well No. 2 will be repaired and completed. The wells are spudded in Kish gas field aimed at gathering underground geological data, assessing different sections of the reservoir and producing gas from Dalan Formation.
Since Kish is a tourist destination, all 12 wells will be drilled in two zones, known as Cluster 1 and Cluster 2.
1bcm Output
Batch drilling method is envisaged in drilling wells in Kish Island in order to accelerate operations. Pony base system is also used for transferring drilling rig to conduct drilling operations. Each development phase of this field will produce 1 bcf of gas, whose exports would earn the country more than $10 billion in revenues every year.
In line with the development of this field, construction of treatment installations is on the agenda. Last March, an agreement was signed for the implementation of phase 1 of the refinery with the collaboration of Farab and Namvaran companies. The first phase of the refinery is estimated to be ready in 42 months starting from the date the contract was signed.
The Exploration Directorate of National Iranian Oil Company asked NIDC to continue drilling operations in 2004 and the drilling bit reached gas at the depth of 4,000 meters. Existence of gas in this field was then announced officially.
Simultaneous Drilling
NIDC, as the contractor for drilling in the development of Kish gas field, has signed a contract with PEDEC for drilling 6 development wells in Cluster A and 6 development wells in Cluster B of the field.
Nasser Pour-Mansouri, director of Fath-61 drilling rig, said drilling in Cluster B has progressed more than 80 percent. He added that six more wells for this cluster would be ready for operation next year.
The six wells currently existing in Cluster A of Kish gas field will need 12 to 18 months for development if drilling is to continue there.
The drilling of Well B6 is under way in Kish gas field and NIDC-owned Fath-61 drilling rig is currently in operation at the depth of 2,957 meters.
The drilling of Well No. 6 in Cluster B recently started and it is expected to be finished on schedule soon.
According to geological data, the depth of drilling in Kish gas field is between 4,150 and 4,160 meters. The wells in this field are being drilled simultaneously and so far, 3,875 meters of drilling has been done. These operations will continue up to depth of 4,150 meters.
Iranian engineers have for the first time designed a pony base for moving onshore drilling rigs to spud wells. This pony base can help transfer the drilling rig easily and bath drilling could be done.
The reason for a halt in drilling operations in Kish gas field is the need for more technical exam and procurement of new commodities. Moreover, Fath-61 and Fath-54 drilling rigs needed reconstruction.
Onshore drilling rigs operating in warm and humid zones often need reconstruction due to corrosion. The urgency of reparation of drilling rig may necessitate halting drilling operations.
NIDC’s onshore drilling rigs are often repaired at Ahvaz site and their reparation usually takes eight months.
Pour-Mansouri said gathering geological data, assessing different sections of drilling and gas production from Dalan Formation are among objectives of drilling in Kish gas field.
Drilling of all wells in Kish gas field is directional and they deviate after the depth of 300 meters.
Currently, Iranian engineers are providing all services including downhole and wellhead services, coiled tubing services, geological and other related services.