AFRICA

BG Group confirms gas find in three-well appraisal

BG Group Plc announced results from a three-well appraisal program including the #1-Jodari South, #1-STJodari South (a deviated sidetrack), and #1-Jodari North wells in Tanzania’s offshore Block 1. The results reconfirm the 3.4 Tcf in estimated mean recoverable gas resources. The #1-Jodari South well was drilled southwest of #1-Jodari to 3,441 m (11,289 ft). It was sidetracked to drill #1-ST Jodari South to 3,282 m (10,768 ft). The #1-Jodari North was then drilled north of #1-Jodari to 3,389 m (11,119 ft). BG Group is the operator of Tanzania’s Block 1 and the Jodari field with a 60% interest in partnership with Ophir Energy, which holds the remaining 40% interest.

Aker wins $850 million Moho Nord contract

Aker Solutions has been awarded a US $850 million contract by Total for the delivery of a subsea production system for the deepwater Moho Nord project offshore the Republic of Congo, Aker said in a press release. The project, located approximately 75 km (47 miles) offshore, consists of the Moho Nord and Moho Bilondo Phase 1 developments. The work scope includes the delivery of 28 vertical subsea trees including wellhead systems, two installation and workover control systems, seven manifold structures, and subsea control and tie-in systems.

ASIA-PACIFIC

InterOil well in Papua New Guinea flows gas

A drillstem test at the #3-Antelope well in Block PRL15, PPL238 in Papua New Guinea flowed 44.9 MMcf of gas with 10.4 bbl to 14.9 bbl of condensate per MMcf through a 1-in. choke, with a flowing tubing pressure of 2,331 psi. InterOil Corp. reported that the vertical well was drilled to 1,773 m (5,817 ft) and tested a 178-m (584-ft) open-hole interval from 1,622 m to 1,800 m (5,321 ft to 5,905 ft) through several choke sizes from 24/ 64 in. to 1 in.

Chevron’s Carnavon basin discovery strikes gas

In Western Australia’s offshore Carnarvon basin-Exmouth Plateau area, Chevron reported a gas field discovery at the #1-Kentish Knock South well. The well encountered approximately 75 m (246 ft) of net gas pay in upper Mungaroo sands. Located in the WA-365-P permit area, the well was drilled in 1,168 m (3,832 ft) of water to 3,065 m (10,056 ft). According to the company, this is the 20th discovery in the area. Chevron is the operator of WA-365-P and the #1-Kentish Knock South discovery well with a 50% interest in partnership with Shell Development Australia, which holds the remaining 50% interest.

MIDDLE EAST

Eni hits oil pay zone in Egypt

In Egypt’s Western Desert Eni reported a new oil discovery on the Meleiha concession at exploration well #1X-Rosa North. According to “Oil and Gas International,” the well hit a total oil pay of about 80 m (262 ft) in multiple good-quality sandstones of the Bahariya, Alam El Bueib, Khatatba (Upper and Lower Safa members), and Ras Qattara reservoirs and has been successfully tested flowing 43°API gravity to 48°API gravity oil. Eni is the operator of the Meleiha concession and #1X-Rosa North with a 56% interest through its affiliate International Egyptian Oil Co. (IEOC), with partners Lukoil (24%) and Mitsui (20%).

QP, Wintershall, Mitsui discover gas offshore Qatar

Qatar Petroleum (QP) and Wintershall made a gas discovery in exploration Block 4 North offshore Qatar, QP said in a press release. QP and Wintershall entered an exploration and production-sharing agreement (EPSA) for Block 4 North in November 2008. Mitsui Gas Development Qatar joined in 2010 by acquiring 20% of the contractor’s interest under the EPSA, with Wintershall retaining an 80% interest and operatorship.

NORTH AMERICA

Test results show gas flow for Questerre

Questerre Energy Corp. reported in a press release the test results from its fourth horizontal well in the Kakwa-Resthaven area of west central Alberta, Canada. The 03-19 well was successfully completed with a 14-stage water-based nitrogen foam fracture stimulation in the 1,321-m (4,334-ft) horizontal section. The well flowed 826 b/d of condensate and 5.83 MMcf/d of natural gas against anticipated gathering system pressure of approximately 725 psi. Questerre holds a 25% working interest in the 03-19 well.

Edge reports oil shows in horizontal well

Edge Resources Inc. finished drilling the second well of its spring drilling program in Primate, Saskatchewan, Canada, reporting oil shows throughout a 495-m (1,624-ft) section, according to a company press release. The well was successfully drilled and cased without incident and is now being prepared for production with completion and equipping operations. The company has a 100% working interest in 20 sections spanning 12,800 acres of land in Primate.

GULF OF MEXICO

Chevron announces oil find in deepwater GoM

Chevron Corp. made an oil discovery at the Coronado prospect in the deepwater US Gulf of Mexico (GoM), the company said in a press release. Walker Ridge Block 98 Well No. 1 encountered more than 122 m (400 ft) of net pay. The well is located approximately 308 km (190 miles) offshore Louisiana in 1,868 m (6,127 ft) of water and was drilled to a depth of 9,713 m (31,866 feet). Chevron, with a 40% working interest in the prospect, is the operator of the Coronado discovery well. Other owners are Conoco-Phillips with a 35% interest, a subsidiary of Anadarko Petroleum Corp. with a 15% interest, and Venari Offshore LLC with a 10% interest.

ConocoPhillips’s Shenandoah well encounters oil

ConocoPhillips made an oil discovery at its recently drilled Shenandoah appraisal well in Walker Ridge Block 51 in the deepwater GoM, the company said in a press release. The WR51-2 Shenandoah appraisal well encountered more than 305 m (1,000 ft) of net pay in high-quality Lower Tertiary-aged reservoirs. The well was drilled to a total depth of 9,572 m (31,405 ft) in approximately 1,768 m (5,800 ft) of water. ConocoPhillips holds a 30% working interest in Shenandoah. Other co-owners are operator Anadarko Petroleum Corp. with a 30% working interest, Cobalt International Energy LP with a 20% interest, Marathon Oil Co. with a 10% interest, and Venari Offshore LLC with a 10% interest.

SOUTH AMERICA

Exxon discovers oil in Colombia’s Middle Magdalena Valley

ExxonMobil announced results from an oil discovery at exploration well #1-Mono Arana in Colombia’s Middle Magdalena Valley on the VMM2 block. The venture was drilled and cased to 3,030 m (9,942 ft) within the Cretaceous La Luna formation and hit approximately 232 m (760 ft) of pay with good oil and gas shows throughout the entire interval while drilling. ExxonMobil is the operator of the VMM2 block and #1-Mono Arana well with a 70.1% interest in partnership with Canacol, which holds a 20% interest, and Vetra Exploracion y Produccion Colombia, which holds the remaining 9.9% interest.

BP completes Itaipu test offshore Brazil

BP successfully completed a flow test on its operated Itaipu-1A deepwater presalt discovery in Block BM-C-32 offshore Brazil, the company said in a press release. The drillstem test is part of an ongoing appraisal program on the field, with the well achieving flow rates of up to 5,600 b/d of oil for 32 hours through a 40/ 64 -in. choke from a limited perforated interval. BP is the operator of BM-C-32 with a 40% interest and is joined by partners Anadarko Petroleum Corp. with a 33.3% interest and Maersk Energia Ltda. with a 26.7% interest.

EUROPE

Centrica begins production at York platform in North Sea

Centrica Energy announced that production had started from its York platform in the southern North Sea. The field, 100% owned by Centrica Energy Upstream, will produce around 120 MMcf/d of gas at its peak. Gas will be exported via pipeline to CSL’s terminal in Easington, East Yorkshire. The York platform is located 40 km (25 miles) east of Humberside in a water depth of 45 m (148 ft).

Statoil, partners will develop Sm?rbukk project offshore Norway

Statoil and its partners in the ?sgard unit will develop the Sm?rbukk South Extension project offshore Norway, Statoil said in a press release. Sm?rbukk South Extension holds estimated recoverable reserves of 16.5 MMboe and will be developed with a new subsea template connected to existing infrastructure in the area. The recovered gas will be reinjected in the reservoir to maintain the reservoir pressure as oil is produced. The field will be connected to the FPSO vessel ?sgard A.