Offshore staff
GODALMING, UK -- Hurricane Exploration has completed testing operations on its Whirlwind discovery well (205/21a-5) West of Shetland. The well is being suspended for future operations.
Drilling started last year, the well encountering a potentially large oil column in 132 m (433 ft) true vertical thickness (TVT) of fractured limestone and 138 m (453 ft) TVT of underlying fractured basement, before being suspended.
Re-entry was originally planned for this summer. However, delays in delivery of the semisub WilPhoenix meant operations could not resume until early September, and the work program had to be amended to take account of winter weather.
Revised testing resulted in recovery to surface of light volatile oil/ gas condensate. This and the drilling fluid losses suggest the reservoir penetrated is permeable. Downhole pressure testing confirms the overpressured nature of the fractured reservoir.
Consultants RPS Energy estimate Whirlwind’s contingent resources in the range 98-373 MMboe of light oil and 91-301 MMboe of gas condensate.
Hurricane CEO Dr Robert Trice said: “The discovery of light oil/condensate at Whirlwind is extremely good news as it is located in close proximity to our Lancaster basement discovery… However, the true significance of Whirlwind to the region will have to wait until further evaluation of the data is completed followed by targeted appraisal drilling.”
11/1/2011
