Offshore staff
HOUSTON – APA Corp. has issued an update on exploration and appraisal campaigns on block 58 offshore Suriname.
APA Suriname holds a 50% working interest in the block, with operator TotalEnergies holding the other 50%.
Flow and subsequent pressure build-up tests were recently completed at the Sapakara South-1 (SPS-1) appraisal well. It was drilled on the eastern edge of Sapakara nearly 4 km (2.5 mi) from the discovery well. SPS-1 encountered about 30 m (98 ft) of net black oil pay in a single zone of high-quality Campano-Maastrichtian reservoir.
A restricted flow test averaged 4,800 b/d of oil for 48 hours. Without flow restrictions, a development well would produce at a higher sustained rate, the company said. The semisubmersible Maersk Developer performed the flow test.
Preliminary analysis of the data indicates the following:
- A single reservoir in SPS-1 proved connected resource of 325 to 375 MMbbl of oil in place
- Exceptional reservoir quality with permeability in the range of 1.4 Darcies
- Black oil with a 34° API and flowing gas-to-oil ratio (GOR) of approximately 1,100 scf/bbl
- Seismic imaging of this Sapakara reservoir supports substantially more potential resource, which could be proven through additional appraisal drilling.
John J. Christmann IV, APA’s CEO and president, said: “The data we’ve collected confirms an excellent quality black oil reservoir, which we believe will serve as a foundation for a development project in Suriname. The high permeability of the oil-bearing sand and its thick and consistent quality indicate strong well deliverability and, importantly, high recovery factors.”
The Maersk Developer is nearing contract completion and TotalEnergies will release the rig once operations are finished at SPS-1.
In the northern portion of block 58, the drillship Maersk Valiant drilled the Bonboni-1 exploration well in water depths of nearly 2,000 m (6,562 ft) about 45 km (28 mi) from APA’s discoveries in the Maka-Kwaskwasi-Sapakara-Keskesi trend.
In the primary Maastrichtian and Campanian objectives, the well encountered high quality, water bearing reservoirs. In a Maastrichtian objective, the well penetrated 16 m (52 ft) of net pay in a single zone, consisting of low-GOR, 25° API black oil. The aerial extent of this pay zone is not sufficient to support a commercial development, and the well will be P&A’d.
Tracey Henderson, SVP of Exploration, said: “The results at Bonboni extend the proven petroleum system to the northern boundary of block 58, confirming the presence of high-quality reservoir sands and the generation and migration of black oil. With the critical elements of reservoir and charge now proven, our focus turns to integrating well data to prioritize the numerous exploration prospects we have mapped in both blocks 58 and 53.”
The Maersk Valiant will next drill the Krabdagoe exploration prospect, 18 km (11 mi) east of SPS-1. According to APA, Krabdagoe has a similar seismic signature to the two successful wells at Sapakara and the nearby Keskesi discovery well. Success at Krabdagoe could materially increase the scope and scale of a development in the central portion of block 58.
The company envisions a potential black oil development hub that would accommodate production from Krabdagoe, Sapakara and Keskesi.
Finally, APA has awarded the drillship Noble Gerry de Souza a one-well contract offshore Suriname. The drillship will mobilize to block 53 in early 2022. It includes options for two additional wells.
11/16/2021
