The drillship Stena Forth has completed the Anchois-3 well drilling campaign in the Lixu license offshore Morocco for the proposed Anchois gas project.
According to partner Chariot, the main hole (Anchois-3ST) was drilled to a total MD of 3,045 m in 349 m water depth.
Early analysis suggests that the well encountered multiple good quality gas-bearing reservoirs in the B sand appraisal interval, as anticipated. However, the associated gas pays are now thought to be lower than the pre-drill geological model.
Other target reservoirs penetrated beneath the B sands were water wet. The appraisal target reservoirs of the C and M sand were drilled deeper than the gas bearing sands in the Anchois-2 well and into the water-leg at this location.
The Anchois North Flank exploration prospect was also water wet, although with associated gas shows.
Following P&A of the main hole, without flow testing, the drillship is currently being demobilized.
Chariot said the partnership (Energean is the operator with state-owned ONHYM the other co-venturer) would undertake further detailed work to determine the next steps for the project.
Adonis Pouroulis, Chariot’s CEO, said results from the Anchois East campaign were not as expected or in line with those from the previously drilled Anchois-2 well.
“The primary exploration objectives were unsuccessful however, we did demonstrate the extension of gas-bearing reservoirs in the main appraisal B sands, albeit with thinner columns than estimated and data acquired from the other reservoirs will be useful for our understanding of the field.”
The partnership had been looking to prove additional volumes for a proposed subsea-beach development, with the gas sent to a new onshore processing complex both for domestic use and for exports across the Mediterranean Sea to Spain via a new onshore pipeline. SLB and Subsea7 have been working on the designs for the SPS/SURF facilities.
A commenter from the investment banking firm Stifel said: “This is a very disappointing outcome and will put the commerciality of what had looked a very viable project pre-drill (with gas found in the previous two wells drilled on the field) into question, with at a minimum more seismic required, we think, to re-define volume of gas potentially in place, and ahead of planning any possible future wells.”
