Suriname oil exploration by Total and Apache JV to progress after test well instability
|
|
http://china.chemnet.com
2021年03月11日 19:46:11 【大 中 小】 |
|
Total and Apache Corp. will continue their oil exploration program offshore of Suriname after ceasing drilling in one key test well upon facing "substantial pressure increases," but only after they had already struck oil at shallower depths.
The Total and Apache joint venture is attempting to turn the small South American nation's into the world's next oil frontier just as ExxonMobil has done with neighboring Guyana. Total and Apache have announced four Suriname discoveries since the beginning of 2020, and ExxonMobil and Petronas recently made their first discovery on the Suriname side of the international Atlantic waters.
Apache said the Keskesi East-1 well, which struck oil in the Upper Cretaceous-aged depths in January, has ceased its drilling operations as it sought additional crude oil deposits in the deeper Neocomian-aged targets.
"As drilling progressed, the well encountered substantial pressure increases that APA and Total determined could ultimately exceed the capabilities of the wellbore design and pressure control equipment," Apache said in a statement. "Consequently, the partners decided to conclude drilling operations at Keskesi before reaching the Neocomian targets."
They will now work on designing a new wellbore and drilling program for a safer test of the deep Neocomian targets in future exploration.
While the announcement is not good news for the Suriname exploration, said RBC Capital Markets analyst Scott Hanold, it should not be considered discouraging either.
The most likely scenario is Total and Apache announce a final investment decision late this year to target production in shallower depths off of Suriname, he said.
"I think there's still potential there. I don't think you need this to make the (Neocomian) play. I think it's additive," Hanold said. "It just takes a little icing off the cake on the upside."
But first oil is still at least four years away, he cautioned, so there remains a long way to go.
Apache emphasized that the additional drilling at the Keskesi East-1 well did still encounter in the Lower Cretaceous depths, as well as a "carbonate depositional system" above the top Neocomian target. Apache called the finds "encouraging," while cautioning that the data did not reveal specific information about the Neocomian targets themselves.
The Block 58 joint venture is a Total-operated 50-50 split with Apache since the beginning of 2020.
Keskesi is the easternmost of the four discoveries. The next well in the exploration queue is Bonboni, on the northern portion of Block 58.
Apache's capital budget for 2021 is $1.1 billion, up 11% year on year. This includes $200 million for exploration in Suriname for a two-rig appraisal and exploration program in the country.
How we got here
Now that ExxonMobil has made a whopping 18 Guyana discoveries to date on the Stabroek block, the natural line of thinking was whether similar crude oil discoveries could come from neighboring waters.
With struggling Venezuela on the other side of Guyana, the focus shifted to Suriname with Apache seizing the lead before being joined by Total.
In January, their Keskesi East-1 well encountered a total of 206 meters net pay consisting of black oil, volatile oil and gas pay in good quality reservoirs after being drilled to a water depth of about 2,400 feet, the companies said.
In early 2020, the partners announced the Maka Central-1 discovery, which found 240 feet of oil pay and 164 meters of light oil and gas condensate pay. The subsequent large discoveries at Sapakara West and Kwaskwasi have supported expectations that Block 58 could be prolific.
Also, ExxonMobil and Malaysia's Petronas in December announced an offshore Suriname discovery named Sloanea on Block 52, east of Total-Apache's Block 58.
Petronas operates the block as part of the 50-50 JV.
In Guyana, ExxonMobil and partners Hess Corp. and China's CNOOC began production in December 2019 at the Liza Field, their first discovery on the Stabroek block. Since then, they have sanctioned a second project at Liza Phase 2 and a third project, Payara, which are expected to come online roughly in early 2022 and 2024, respectively.
Liza Phase 1 can produce up to 120,000 b/d, ExxonMobil said, while the two newer developments are designed to produce up to 220,000 b/d each. |
|
中国化工网信息投诉及合作热线: 0571-88228404
【版权声明】秉承互联网开放、包容的精神,化工网欢迎各方(自)媒体、机构转载、引用我们原创内容,但要严格注明来源化工网;同时,我们倡导尊重与保护知识产权,如发现本站文章存在版权问题,烦请将版权疑问、授权证明、版权证明、联系方式等,发邮件至info@netsun.com,我们将第一时间核实、处理。
|
【打印】 【关闭】 |
文章关键词: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
免责声明:浙江网盛生意宝股份有限公司对中国化工网上刊登的所有信息未声明或保证其内容的正确性或可靠性;您同意将自行加以判断并承担所有风险,浙江网盛生意宝股份有限公司,有权但无此义务,改善或更正所刊登信息任何部分之错误或疏失。
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|