Offshore staff
DUBLIN, Ireland -- Providence Resources (AIM:PRV) has completed testing operations on its Barryroe appraisal well off southern Ireland.
Well 48/24-10z was drilled in around 100 m (328 ft) of water, 50 km (31 mi) offshore in the North Celtic Sea basin.
Followingearlier successful testing of the lower basal 24-ft (7-m) net oil-bearing interval, which flowed around 3,514 b/d of oil and 2.93 MMcf/d of gas, an additional 17-ft (5-m) thick net gas-bearing section was perforated to assess the upper part of the basal Wealden sandstone section.
Providence says the surface test spread equipment was optimized for thelower oil zone test and was therefore equipment constrained on this gas zone test. Nevertheless, it achieved productive flow rates of around 7 MMcf/d and 1,350 b/d through a 36/64-in. choke, with a flowing well head pressure of 1,700 psig.
Productivity of the gas-bearing interval exceeded expectations, but also constrained the ability to fully open the well up to its maximum potential. Early analysis of pressure data suggests a commingled flow rate of 6,183 boe/d is feasible at a flowing wellhead pressure of 500 psig.
The well has been suspended and the rig will leave Irish waters for the UK.
Tony O’Reilly, CEO of Providence, said: “The well lies just 3 km [1.8 mi] from installed pipeline infrastructure which may provide a future route to monetize any surplus Barryroe gas production.
“It is particularly pleasing to note that both the oil and gas zones have far exceeded our pre-drill expectations, both in terms of reservoir development and more importantly, oil and gas flow rates.”
3/23/2012
