Judy Maksoud, Houston
null
Americas
Colombia is putting 13 blocks up for bid this year in areas ranging from the transition zone to deepwater. The blocks, located in the Urabá, Sinú, and Guajira basins, average 290,000 hectares (716,603 acres) in size.
Data packages were made available on May 21. Qualification documents will be available on Aug. 10, and bids are due on Sept. 18. Awards are to take place in October.
Each block has a minimum exploration program based on its size, available data, and characteristics. The first phase of the exploration period requires an assessment of the prospectivity as well as acquisition, processing, and interpretation of seismic data. The second phase of the exploration period requires the drilling of an exploration well and the relinquishment of 50% of the original contract area.
Petrobras has found gas with well 6-ESS-168 in the Espírito Santo basin. Drilling was ongoing as of mid-May, but the well had reached sandstone reservoirs at that time at a depth of 3,378 m (11,083 ft), encountering a 130-m (426.5-ft) gas column.
Petrobras found gas with the 6-ESS-168 well in mid-May in the Espírito Santo basin offshore Brazil.
The well is being drilled in the BM-ES-5 exploratory concession 37 km (23 mi) from the Espírito Santo coast in 763 m (2,503 ft) water depth. Well 6-ESS-168 is north of the Camarupim field, which was declared commercially viable at the end of 2006. The new discovery is important, Petrobras says, because it indicates an increase in expected recoverable volumes in the area. Petrobras operates this concession with 65% interest. El Paso holds the remaining 35%.
Other interesting news from Petrobras is its recent reaffirmation of a partnership being forged with Venezuelan national oil company Petróleos de Venezuela.
According to Petrobras, there is no threat that the negotiations kicked off nearly two years ago will be interrupted.
The company remains resolute in studying the viability of the projects currently under discussion with PdVSA, Petrobras says. Projects include mature field revitalization and development of the Mariscal Sucre field.
Asia-Pacific
PetroChina Co. Ltd. hit oil in mid-May in the shallow-water Jidong Nanpu field in Bohai Bay. The field holds an estimated at 1,020 million metric tons of oil.
The field has four oil-bearing geological structures, PetroChina says, indicating 405,070,000 metric tons of proved reserves. The average thickness of an oil-bearing layer per well is 80-100 m (262.5-328 ft).
Production testing results show that the daily output of each vertical well is 80-100 metric tons. Daily output for each horizontal well is 200-500 metric tons.
The company is applying for assessment of the Jidong Nanpu field reserves by the relevant PRC government organizations.
PT Pertamina plans to invest $1 billion to increase Indonesia’s oil production by 53% (70,640 b/d) and gas output by 70% (792 MMcf/d) by the end of 2009. The investment is to go toward developing 170 existing wells, drilling new prospects, and developing high-cost oil and gas reserves in frontier areas in eastern Indonesia.
Among Pertamina’s high-profile exploration activities from this year is the 51:49 partnership with Statoil, signed March 30, 2007, to develop the recently acquired Karama block in the Makassar Strait offshore West Sulawesi.
The two companies have committed $75 million to drill prospects in the block, which holds an estimated 200 MMbbl of oil. The agreement stipulates that the two companies will jointly pursue further exploration opportunities, particularly in Indonesia’s eastern territories.
Earlier in March, the Karama deepwater block, also in the Makassar Strait, was awarded to Statoil and Pertamina. Statoil holds an interest in the neighboring Kuma block as well.
Exxon Mobil Corp. subsidiary ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Indonesia (Mandar) Ltd. is planning its own work program in the Makassar Strait. The company signed a production-sharing contract (PSC) with the government of Indonesia for the Mandar block in late March 2007.
This contract enables exploration on the block to begin. ExxonMobil holds 100% interest in the Mandar block, which comprises 4,200 sq km (1,621.6 sq mi) in the Southern Makassar basin in water depths ranging from the coastline to more than 2,000 m (6,000 ft).
BP also is gearing up for exploration. In late March, BP Plc. and partners signed on two Ensco International Inc. jackup rigs for development drilling in the Berau, Wiriagar, and Muturi blocks off Indonesia’s Papua province for the Tangguh LNG project.
Fifteen wells have been planned for newbuildsEnsco 108 and Ensco 104. The first of these wells was scheduled to be spudded by the end of April 2007. The two rigs, designed to BP’s specifications for the field, also will carry out exploration and appraisal drilling in the three blocks.
Africa
In early 2Q, Total made two oil discoveries in the northern area of the Moho-Bilondo permit, 80 km (50 mi) offshore Republic of the Congo in 1,000 m (3,280 ft) of water.
The Moho Nord Marine-1 discovery well was drilled to a TD of 2,645 m (8,678 ft) and encountered a 140-m (459-ft) column of oil in high quality Upper Miocene reservoir levels.
Total made two deepwater oil discoveries in the northern area of the Moho-Bilondo permit, 80 km (50 mi) offshore Republic of the Congo.
The Moho Nord Marine-2 discovery well was drilled to a TD of 2,340 m (7,677 ft) about 1.5 km (1 mi) from the first well. Moho Nord Marine-2 encountered a different set of two Upper Miocene oil reservoirs that are connected to each other, one overlying the other. One contains a 78-m (256-ft) column of oil. The other contains a 22-m (72-ft) column of oil, Total says.
Appraisal is under way for the additional reserves in the three oil reservoirs. Development plan studies have already been launched.
A few weeks after the Total discovery, Sonangol and BP Exploration (Angola) Ltd. found oil with the ultra deepwater Miranda discovery in block 31 offshore Angola. Miranda is the 13th discovery BP has drilled in block 31. The well is 11 km (6.8 mi) south of the recently announced Titania.
Sonangol is the concessionaire of block 31. BP operates the block with 26.67% interest. Other partners include Esso Exploration and Production Angola (Block 31) Ltd. with 25% interest, Sonangol E.P. with 20% interest, Statoil Angola A.S. with 13.33% interest, Marathon International Petroleum Angola Block 31 Ltd. with 10% interest and Total subsidiary TEPA (Block 31) Ltd. with 5% interest.
Afren Plc. and partner Amni International Petroleum Development Co. received approval for the Okoro Setu field development plan from the Nigerian government in early April.
The approved plan includes development drilling of up to six deviated or horizontal gravel-packed oil production wells from a single field location supported by a minimum facilities wellhead platform. The drilling and completion sequence will begin in Q3 2007.
Later in the month, the companies signed a contract for an FPSO for Okoro Setu. TheArmada Perkasa is expected to begin production from Okoro Setu in early 2008.
GlobalSantaFe’sAdriatic VI jackup will begin a nine-month development drilling program in Q3 2007.
Mediterranean
PA Resources has begun regular production from the platform on the Didon field offshore Tunisia.
The company has finalized the tests of the platform and production has reached approximately 20,000 b/d oil.
A temporary tanker anchored near the Didon platform will be replaced later this spring by the tankerDidon FSO or another permanent tanker with greater loading capacity, the company says.
Middle East
ONGC Videsh Ltd. and partner IPR Red Sea Inc. discovered a new oilfield with well North Ramadan-1A in the North Ramadan concession in the Gulf of Suez offshore Egypt.
The North Ramadan concession is 290 sq km (112 sq mi) in size. The minimum work commitment in the three-year exploration phase includes drilling three exploratory wells, acquiring 50 sq km (19 sq mi) of 3D data, and reprocessing existing data. ONGC Videsh holds 70% interest in the concession, with IPR Red Sea holding the remaining 30 %.
Investments are changing hands in the Gulf of Suez. Dana Petroleum Plc. subsidiary Dana Petroleum (E&P) Ltd. has signed an agreement with Devon Energy Corp. to acquire Devon’s entire upstream petroleum business interests in Egypt. Devon’s interests span eight companies and eight PSCs, including acreage in the prolific Gulf of Suez and the Western Desert.
Europe
Petroceltic International Plc. subsidiary Petroceltic Elsa Srl. has been awarded seven new permit applications in the Central Adriatic offshore. The company will operate the seven exclusive exploration permits with 100% working interest. The permit areas cover 2,040 sq km (788 sq mi) in water depths ranging from 30 to 150 m (98-492 ft).
These exploration permit areas were selected primarily to access the extension of the proven Elsa-Miglianico oil fairway into the central Adriatic to the east and southeast of the existing Petroceltic blocks, the company says. The blocks are adjacent to three oil fields, including the Miglianico, Rospo Mare, and Ombrino Mare fields, and the Santo Stefano Mare gas field.
The seven exclusive exploration permits are part of an application for nine permits in the central Adriatic area submitted by Petroceltic in October 2006. A decision from the Ministry regarding the other two applications has not yet been made.
Central Europe/Caspian
Turkmenistan has reportedly invited Chevron Corp. to participate in exploring and developing the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea. Turkmenistan lacks the necessary technology to develop the offshore fields and is interested in developing a relationship that would give the country access to the much needed technology.
The Turkmen government estimates the country’s gas reserves at 2.8 tcm, and the country has a goal of producing 80 bcm/d of gas and 10.4 million metric tons of oil per day this year.
