Testing imminent of Zama-2 side track offshore Mexico

March 7, 2019
Talos Energy’s side track of the Zama-2 appraisal well offshore Mexico has encountered the main reservoir, according to partner Premier Oil.

Offshore staff

LONDON – Talos Energy’s side track of the Zama-2 appraisal well offshore Mexico has encountered the main reservoir, according to partner Premier Oil.

Zama-2, drilled north of theZama discovery well in block 7 at the end of November, penetrated 152 m (498 ft) of net pay above the oil-water contact.

Coring is in progress ahead of a drillstem test with the results expected in early April. The rig will then drill a second appraisal well (Zama-3) to assess the southern part of the field.

McDermott and IO will incorporate the results into their engineering studies for the concept selection process. Premier expects the partners to take a final investment decision on the development in 2020.

This June, 3D seismic acquisition is due to begin over block 30, awarded last year underMexico’s Round 3.1. The concession, awarded to DEA (as operator) Premier and Sapura, is directly southwest of Zama in the shallow-water Sureste basin.

Results from this survey will be used to improve definition of exploration targets. These include the potentially high-impact Wahoo prospect, which exhibits a flat spot on 2D seismic analogous to Zama, and Cabrilla. Drilling should follow next year.

In 2018, Premier commissioned an environmental baseline study across blocks 11 and 13 and it plans to reprocess existing 3D seismic in order to determine potential drilling targets.

Both blocks are in the Burgos basin, directly inboard from the deepwater Perdido fold belt.

In Brazil’s offshore Ceará basin, the company plans to initiate drilling in the first half of 2020 on block 717. Following approval from the ANP, it will drill a single well (as operator) targeting the stacked Berimbau and Maraca prospects.

In addition, Premier will participate in a well on block 661 designed to test the Itarema and Tatajuba prospects. Collectively, the two wells will be pursuing a potential resource of more than 500 MMbbl.

However, the company has decided to relinquish its license for block 665 in the same basin after reviewing 3D data.

03/07/2019