Offshore staff
HOUSTON – Apache Corp. and Total have discovered what could be a substantial oilfield in block 58 offshore Suriname.
The drillship Noble Sam Croft drilled the Maka Central-1 well, initially penetrating 50 m (164 ft) of net hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir in the shallower Upper Cretaceous Campanian interval.
Analysis of fluid samples and test results indicates light oil and gas condensate with API gravities ranging from 40-60°.
Deeper down, the Santonian interval contained 73 m (240 ft) of net oil-bearing reservoir with oil gravities between 35 and 45°.
The well also targeted a third interval, the Turonian, in a geological analogue to oil discoveries offshore West Africa. But before reaching this interval, the well encountered significantly over-pressured, oil-bearing reservoirs in the lower Santonian, so drilling was halted at around 6,300 m (20,670 ft).
These pressures are a positive indicator for the Turonian, Apache added, and future drilling will test this interval.
CEO and President John J. Christmann said: “The well proves a working hydrocarbon system in the first two play types within block 58 and confirms our geologic model with oil and condensate in shallower zones and oil in deeper zones.
“Preliminary formation evaluation data indicates the potential for prolific oil wells. Additionally, the size of the stratigraphic feature, as defined by 3D seismic imaging, suggests a substantial resource.
“Block 58 comprises 1.4 million acres [5,665 sq km] and offers significant potential beyond the discovery at Maka Central. We have identified at least seven distinct play types and more than 50 prospects within the thermally mature play fairway.”
The Noble Sam Croft will next drill the Sapakara West-1 exploration well, 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Maka Central, testing oil-prone upper Cretaceous targets in the Campanian and Santonian intervals.
01/07/2020
