Offshore staff
LONDON -- EnCore Oil has concluded well test operations on the Catcher oil discovery in the UK central North Sea. The partners now plan to side track the well to the east, within the Tay formation.
The test and fluid sampling program confirmed 30° API oil in the Cromarty reservoir. Oil flowed to surface naturally, but a mechanical restriction in the test string meant it was not possible to achieve a stabilized flow through the separator.
However, the well test did reveal a strong average reservoir permeability of above 1.5 darcies. Without the mechanical problems, says partner Premier Oil, the well might have flowed at over 7,500 b/d.
Earlier wireline samples showed a GOR of 280 cf/bbl and a viscosity at reservoir conditions of 4 cP.
Premier adds that there appears to be sufficient data to initiate development studies. The company is sticking to its earlier recoverable reserves range estimate of 25-50 MMbbl.
According to EnCore, the side track should take 10-12 days to complete, weather and operational delays permitting, and it will get under way once the lower section of the current well has been abandoned.
The aim is to prove further hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs in the Catcher East area. After this operation is finished, the partners may opt to drill a further sidetrack into the discovered structure to improve their understanding of reservoir development.
06/15/2010
