Offshore staff
OSLO, Norway – DNO International plans to pick up re-development of the Saleh field 45 km (28 mi) offshore Ras Al Khaimah, after completing a current drilling campaign on the West Bukha/Bukha fields off Oman.
The company has a 70% operated stake in Saleh, following atransfer of interests agreed last year with RAK Petroleum. Production started in 1984 and peaked at 70 MMcf/d of gas and 13,000 b/d of condensate in 1986.
Since then, rates have declined due to pressure depletion and water breakthrough. There are currently five wells and seven small platforms on the field, with some of the wells flowing on an intermittent basis since 1996. Production is sent to the onshore RAK Gas processing facility via an 18-in. (45.7-cm) pipeline.
Following a subsurface study, DNO believes the horizon below the existing depleted reservoir may hold unrealized potential. Although operations had to besuspended on the Saleh-5 well appraising the lower reservoir due to difficult drilling conditions, DNO says it learned much about the drilling of depleted reservoirs, which should be of use as development progresses.
For the re-development, the number of wells required will be based on a new review currently being undertaken DNO’s subsurface and drilling team.
The RAK B field is 28 km (17 mi) southwest of Saleh. The RAK B-1 well, drilled in 1976, discovered oil with good reservoir characteristics at the Ilam level, and condensate-rich gas at the Thamama level. Three appraisal wells were then drilled to delineate the structure.
Studies continue, but DNO expects to drill a further appraisal well in early 2014, followed by a single unmanned platform development tied back to the Saleh facilities.
5/7/2012
