Salamander proves oil and gas in North Kutei basin offshore Indonesia

Offshore staff

LONDON – Salamander Energy has discovered oil and gas in the North Kutei basin offshore Indonesia.

The semisubmersibleOcean General drilled the South Kecapi-1 DIR/ST exploration well (SK-1) on the Bontang PSC. It intersected 40 m (131 ft) of net oil and gas pay in good quality stacked Pliocene channel sandstones.

A drillstem test in a well-developed, Pliocene-age channel sandstone flowed light, sweet 33.4° API oil at around 6,000 b/d (constrained by testing equipment) and 8 MMcf/d (226,535 cm/d) of gas.

Pressures were higher than anticipated and numerous gas kicks were encountered throughout the early Pliocene section, which may suggest a highly active hydrocarbon-charging system. Wireline and pressure data confirmed the presence of an oil/water contact within the channel sandstones.

Salamander plans to drill another well to examine updip potential in the Bedug structure, 4 km (2.5 mi) east and 500 m (1,640 ft) updip of SK-1.

First, however, the rig will transfer to the South East Sangatta PSC to drill theNorth Kendang-1 exploration well.

2/4/2013