Petroleum Africa
Find us on: 
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Cooper Energy reported that its Hammamet West-3 well encountered a significant amount of gas on the Bargou Permit offshore Tunisia. The well’s objective is to drill and test a highly deviated wellbore through the naturally fractured Abiod Formation reservoir to confirm oil productivity. Cooper said the well is currently drilling the horizontal side-track section in the primary target from 3,011 to meters.
High gas readings were observed during drilling over the interval from 3,070 to 3,167 meters. The maximum total gas level recorded was 37%, with onsite gas compositional analysis indicating the likely presence of oil. Additionally, the company said that ultraviolet fluorescence were observed in the drill cuttings over the interval 3,060 to 3,092 meters which is also indicative of the presence of oil.
The shows coincide with features on the logging while drilling image logs obtained indicate a probable fracture zone from 3,075 to 3,080 meters. The drilling mud weight at the time of the gas influx into the wellbore was 10.6 ppg and it has subsequently been raised to 11.8 ppg. The increase to the drilling mud weight is expected to suppress hydrocarbon shows while the remainder of the horizontal well section is drilled. The planned well operation is to continue drilling the horizontal side-track section another 600-700 meters targeting additional Abiod Formation fractures.
The gas influx into the wellbore has resulted in the drilling of the horizontal section being slower than originally expected and it will likely take a further 8-10 days to reach the prognosed total depth and evaluate the significance of the hydrocarbon shows. A revised well cost update will be provided when the horizontal well section is complete and a decision made on whether to conduct a production test.
Cooper Energy executive director Hector Gordon said, “Although the drilling of Hammamet West-3 has taken longer than expected, the shows encountered in the horizontal well section are encouraging and, at this stage, appear to validate the pre-drill reservoir model. The best fractures identified by pre-drill seismic studies are yet to be encountered and we look forward to drilling these in the coming days. When the horizontal well section is complete the Joint Venture may decide to conduct a production test which could take another 20 days.”
" alt="World Heading for 3-degree C Warming Trajectory, as Political Headwinds Slow the Energy Transition">
" alt="VAALCO Energy Publishes its 2023 Sustainability Report">
" alt="Sound Energy Gets Extra Time on Morocco’s Anoual Exploration Permits">
" alt="Exxonmobil and NBA Africa Launch Jr. National Basketball Association League in Mozambique">
" alt="Africa Finance Corp Invests $14.1 Million in Developing Xlinks’ Morocco-UK Power Project">
" alt="Aminex Bags New Funding Facility">
" alt="BW Energy Announces $150 Million Sale & Leaseback of Mabomo Production Facility">
