Petroleum Africa
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Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Anglo African Oil & Gas issued an update on activities surrounding its development of the Tilapia oil field in the Republic of Congo (RoC). The company is solely focused on unlocking the potential of Tilapia, which, in addition to the currently producing horizon of R1/R2, has an undeveloped discovery in the Mengo horizon and exploration potential in the Djeno horizon.
Plans have advanced with respect to drilling a new well, the TLP 103, which will target production from R1/R2 and the Mengo horizon and will appraise the potential from the Djeno horizon. In addition, the operations team continues work to optimize production from the existing TLP 101 and TLP 102 wells.
Following a detailed evaluation and tender process, the operations team has received all relevant tender submissions and has identified its preferred rig contractor. Its preferred contractor has confirmed that its rig is available for use by the company to drill TLP 103 by September 30 following which drilling is expected to take around 45 days.
The rig meets the specification requirements to drill TLP103, and is already located in the RoC, in close vicinity to Pointe Noire, which reduces mobilization and demobilization costs.
Further, after technical evaluation, the company has decided to use fishbones technology to stimulate and complete the Mengo horizon in TLP103. Fishbones technology uses a large number of small diameter lateral jets or drills from the wellbore to penetrate the reservoir and stimulate production. It is ideally suited to the tight formations that are experienced in the Mengo and is more cost-effective and controllable than the alternative of a one-off conventional frack.
In tandem with the above, the company remains focused on optimizing production from TLP 101 and TLP 102. Initially, it was considered that the installation of a pump would increase production. After physical inspection of the wellhead, which included stripping the choke well-head, and inspection of the flow lines back to the separator, it was discovered that there were significant amounts of detritus material in the line which could be causing or contributing to the low production. It is also thought that the detritus could extend 300meters below the wellhead. The company therefore decided not to install the pump but instead resolve the issue of detritus material as a means of increasing the flow rate.
Samples of this material were sent to a UK laboratory for analyses, which have proved that the material is 90% organic with a 25%-40% wax content. Anglo African has determined that the solution for this is to remove as much of the material as possible and then circulate the well, wellhead and flow lines with a toluene solution, under which, in laboratory conditions, the material has reacted and remained in solution. This is an operation which could be completed by the end of August.
At the TLP 102, the company re-perforated the well, albeit without achieving production. The well data has confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons and pressure within both of the shallower R1 and R2 horizons. Based on analysis of the data acquired from a pulse neutron neutron log prior to the re-perforation exercise, the company has determined that the confirmed existence of producible hydrocarbons merits further mechanical intervention to bring this well into production. This further intervention necessitates the use of either the drilling rig used for TLP 103 to re-enter and stimulate the reservoir using fishbones technology or a coiled tubing unit and will therefore take place later this year when equipment is mobilized to drill TLP 103.
In addition to the above the company also concluded all relevant submissions in relation to the completionof the remaining 49% of PetroKouilou, the owner of a 56% interest in the Tilapia field. Anglo African has received consent from both the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and SNPC, the state-run oil and gas firm. There now remain only a few outstanding technical conditions precedent to completion, which the company expects to be satisfied in the coming days.
In the meantime, AAOG enjoys full economic rights over PetroKouilouby virtue of Initial Completion having occurred and so has the confidence to continue its operations as outlined above.
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