Offshore staff
(Brazil)- Norse Energy recently announced the discovery of a gas reservoir at the Manati development well #1 with what is reportedly the thickest continuous gross pay drilled to date in a single well in Brazil.
The company reports that the drilling logs show a gross pay of 327 m in the Sergi formation, of which around 80% is considered net pay. This represents 140 m more compared with the discovery well and is very encouraging with respect to the recoverable reserves in the Manati field.
The well additionally encountered 15 m of gross pay in the Rio das Contas Formation, which is located above the main reservoir. This secondary reservoir was not included in the present company reserve report. Norse Energy was careful to point out that the remaining 6 development wells could still show a different field-wide picture.
Norse Energy has a 10% stake in the Manati project, and is partnered with Queiroz Galvao Perfuracoes (55%) and Petrobras (35%).
The first well was delayed due to the performance of the drilling rig, and the partners' decision to evaluate the physical parameters of the Sergi reservoir by cutting 9 cores inside the reservoir.
On the second Manati development well the partners encountered hole stability problems and therefore a side track is presently in progress.
Norse reports that an important milestone was reached on May 9th, as the main production module was successfully mated with the offshore jacket previously installed on the field.
Overall, the Manati development project is proceeding to accomplish a 3Q 2006 production start-up.
05/19/2006
