3D Seismic Testing in Gambia
Polarcus has begun acquiring 3D seismic over two blocks operated by Camac Energy Gambia.
The 12-streamer 3D/4D vessel Polarcus Alima should take around 50 days to cover 1,500 sq km (579 sq mi) over the A2 and A5 blocks, 28 mi (45 km) offshore Gambia. Both are said to be on-trend with Cairn Energy’s deepwater FAN-1 and SNE-1 discoveries offshore Senegal.
Kase Lawal, chairman and CEO of Camac parent company Erin Energy, said: “The acquisition of 3D seismic data in this emerging West Africa margin basin will provide valuable pre-drill information that is key to evaluating the exploration potential of these blocks, which are in close proximity to recent offshore Senegal oil discoveries.”
India Offshore Platform Goes Onstream
BG India has produced first oil from the Mukta-B (MB) unmanned wellhead platform in the offshore Bombay basin.
BG has a 30% interest in the Panna-Mukta oil and gas fields, in partnership with ONGC and Reliance Industries.
As part of the project the MB and MA pipelines have also been completed, allowing a re-start of production from the MA platform which had been shut-in for more than two years due to pipeline integrity issues.
Facilities on the new platform include hybrid solar panels and wind turbines to ensure self-sufficiency in power, remote monitoring for process optimization, and a VOIP protocol for improved communication.
Well Completed Offshore New Zealand
Cue Energy says the Maari MR7A development well is onstream offshore New Zealand, at an initial production rate of 1,500-2,000 b/d of oil.
The optimal rate will be determined after several weeks of production history, based on reservoir management considerations.
Total output from the OMV-operated Maari field is now around 15,000 b/d.
MR7A is producing from the Moki formation reservoir unit. It was drilled horizontally from the Maari wellhead platform to a TD of 4,220 m (13,845 ft), of which 920 m (3,018 ft) was completed in good-quality reservoir section, according to log data.
Latest Lula Floater on Station Offshore Brazil
Petrobras’ newly-converted FPSO Cidade de Itaguaí is anchored in 2,240 m (7,349 ft) of water in the Iracema Norte area of the Lula field in the presalt Santos basin.
The Schahin/Modec consortium, which was responsible for converting the hull, constructing, and integrating the topsides modules at the BrasFELS shipyard in Angra dos Reis, will also operate the vessel.
It will eventually be connected to eight producer and nine injector wells, with capacity to produce 150,000 b/d of oil, to store 1.6 MMbbl, to compress 8 MMcm/d (282 MMcf/d) of natural gas, and to inject 264,000 b/d of water.
Statoil Proves Further Condensate
Statoil and partner Total have discovered gas and condensate in the Julius structure close to the King Lear field in the southern Norwegian North Sea.
The jackup Maersk Gallant drilled well 2/4-23S in 68 m (223 ft) of water in the production license PL 146, encountering hydrocarbons in the Ula formation with moderate reservoir quality, according to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate. Statoil estimates recoverable volumes in the range 15-75 MMboe.
The well was also designed to appraise King Lear, discovered by the PL146/PL333 partnership in 2012. It provided important information on reservoir distribution and reservoir communication in King Lear.
Following further analysis, Statoil expects volumes in King Lear to stay within its previous estimate of 70-200 MMboe. The partners will now work on a development solution.