Shell prepares for third well offshore French Guiana
Dec. 21, 2012
Northern Petroleum has provided an update on the Shell-operated exploration drilling program offshore French Guiana, in which Northern has a minority interest.
Offshore staff
LONDON – Northern Petroleum has provided an update on the Shell-operated exploration drilling program offshore French Guiana, in which Northern has a minority interest.
After the recently completedGM-ES-2 exploration well (a dry hole), the DP drillship Stena IceMAX will transfer to the GM-ES-3 location to drill the second well in the four-well program.
The well will target the Priodontes turbidite fan exploration prospect, within the larger main Cingulata fan system that also contains theZaedyus discovery fan, with the focus on several Cretaceous reservoir intervals.
The aims are to prove significant oil volumes in the fan, help determine the Cingulata subsurface model, possibly determine an oil/water contact, assess the reservoir potential in the northwestern part of the larger Cingulata fan system, and improve understanding of the potential of the entire block.
GM-ES-3 should take three to four months to drill. Operational performance should benefit from lessons learnt during the first two wells, Northern adds.
