Offshore staff
EDINBURGH, UK -- GSP’s jackup Jupiter has successfully drilled the Kavarna East No.1 well in the Bulgarian sector of the Black Sea as a gas find, according to operator Melrose Resources.
The prospect is around 10 km (6.2 mi) east of the Melrose-operated Galata field production platform. The location is between two other recent discoveries, Kavarna and Kaliakra, which hold combined reserves of 74 Bcf and which are being developed via subsea wells tied back to Galata.
Kavarna East No.1 penetrated the top of the Paleocene reservoir interval at a depth of 2,753 ft (839 m), encountering net gas pay of 89 ft (27 m) with an average porosity of 29%.
Melrose’s preliminary reserves estimate is 12 bcf, in line with its pre-drill assessment. The structure will likely be developed using a low cost tie in to the Kavarna subsea well facilities.
The well intersected a gross gas column of around 130 ft (39.6 m). In line with other discoveries on the same geologic trend, the reservoir structure is thought to be filled with gas to the spill point.
This, Melrose claims, provides further evidence of a substantial regional biogenic gas source, with some of the gas having perhaps migrated north into the central area of the Galata block. The company plans to acquire seismic over this area next year to evaluate prospectivity.
Jupiter will next install the subsea tree for the Kaliakra development, and may then go on to drill the Kaliakra East prospect. However, Melrose first awaits confirmation that seabed conditions at the well site will allow the jackup to operate at the required water depth.
07/30/2010
