Offshore staff
HOUSTON – The semisubmersible Transocean'sGSF Celtic Sea has spudded the postsalt Kindele-1 exploration well – the first on block 5 offshore Angola – for Vaalco Energy and partner Sonangol E&P.
Kindele-1 well will target a fault block adjacent to the Mubafo discovery which tested oil from the Mucanzo sand section within the Pinda group formations. The well will be drilled to a depth of 1,800 m (5,905 ft) to evaluate the Mucanzo sand section and then deepened to the salt to an estimated depth of 2,250 m (7,382 ft) for geologic and geophysical correlation.
Drilling to total depth is expected to take around six weeks.
Additionally, Vaalco says seismic processing is nearing completion over the outboard portion of block 5, the aim being to image presalt structures as potential targets for future exploration wells.
Steve Guidry, chairman and CEO, said: “We continue to believe that block 5 is within an area with potential in both post- and presalt formations including the syn-rift and sag play.”
Under the block’s subsequent exploration phase which expires in November 2017, the partners have committed to drill four exploration wells.
03/10/2015
