Clean-up continues on North Tchibala well offshore Gabon

HOUSTON —VAALCO Energy is monitoring sub-optimal production performance from its latest development well offshore Gabon.

North Tchibala 2H-ST came online early last month, flowing at a low, controlled rate to allow for clean-up and to minimize impact on the completion, and has since produced about 8,000 bbl of oil, or 275 bbl/d. But post-frac modeling suggests the well should be capable of producing 1,500 bbl/d or higher.

To date, only about 33% of the injected completion fluid has so far been recovered. Clean-up operations continue, with pressure transient analysis indicating that the lower stimulated zones may not be contributing.

Chemical analysis of oil recovered from the well should help the company determine whether all zones that were fracture-stimulated are in fact producing.

Early this month, Vaalco completed the first lifting of crude from its new FSO Teli.