Deep Gulf, Stone Energy Strike Wet Gas In GoM
Deep Gulf Energy III and partner Stone Energy have hit liquids-rich natural gas pay in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico’s Mississippi Canyon Block 116.
The Rampart Deep well, operated by Deep Gulf, hit about 40 m (130 ft) of net pay in three primary zones, Stone Energy said in a news release Sept. 5.
The partners are deferring completion of Rampart Deep as they analyze well data. In addition to the reserve potential of Rampart Deep, Stone said the well provides critical information that reduces the exploration risk of Stone’s Derbio prospect. Derbio is located up-dip and northwest of Rampart Deep in Mississippi Canyon Block 72, said Stone, which holds a 40% working interest in the well.
Drilling plans for Derbio will be reviewed with the Rampart Deep partners over the next 90 days.
If Derbio is successful, first production from the Rampart Deep/Derbio project is expected by late 2019 and could be a multi-well tie back to the Pompano platform, which is owned 100% by Stone.
Working interest partners in the Rampart Deep well are Deep Gulf Energy III, with 30% and entities managed by Ridgewood Energy Corp., including Riverstone Holdings and its portfolio company ILX Holdings III, with 30%.
Stone holds a 100% working interest in the Derbio prospect, but the Rampart Deep partners may elect into the Derbio well for a 60% total working interest, proportionate to their respective Rampart Deep working interests, with the remaining 40% owned by Stone.
CNOOC, SK Innovation Will Explore New South China Sea Block
China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) signed a production-sharing contract with South Korea’s SK Innovation Co. to explore a block in the South China Sea, its listed unit CNOOC Ltd. said in a statement on Sept. 5.
Block 17/08 is located in the Pearl River Mouth Basin and covers an area of 466 sq km (180 sq miles), with water depths ranging between 100 m and 130 m (328 ft and 427 ft).
SK, South Korea’s largest refiner, will carry out exploration in the block and bear all the expense during the exploration phase. If a discovery is made and development starts, CNOOC will have the right to take up to a 51% participating interest in any commercial production.
The companies signed similar contracts in 2015 to develop blocks 04/20 and 17/03 in same basin of the South China Sea.
CNOOC, according to its website, is looking for foreign partners to explore and develop 22 blocks this year.
CGG Pursues Surveys Offshore Mozambique, Brazil
CGG said it will begin acquisition of a new multiclient survey of up to 40,000 sq km (15,444 sq miles) of 3-D data offshore Mozambique after the company signed an agreement Mozambique’s Instituto Nacional de Petroleo (INP).
The survey will cover the Beira High in the Zambezi Delta, including blocks Z5-C and Z5-D and surrounding acreage, CGG said in the release. Deliverables will include fast-track PreSTM, final PreSTM and PreSDM. The seismic data will be imaged with the latest 3D broadband deghosting and advanced demultiple, velocity modeling and imaging techniques, including full-waveform Inversion, the company said.
This survey is part of a JumpStart geoscience program that aims to improve the understanding of the prospectivity of the region, CGG said. Marine gravity and magnetic data will be acquired simultaneously with the seismic to accelerate regional interpretation.
On Aug. 29, CGG said it has begun work on the BroadSeis 3-D multiclient survey in the Espirito Santo Basin offshore Brazil. Called Espirito Santo IV, the survey spanning 10,300 sq km (3,977 sq miles) is expected to take seven months to acquire. It will be acquired by the Oceanic Champion.
“The high-end broadband sequence will include the latest 3D deghosting, full-waveform inversion velocity modeling and tilted transverse isotropy imaging,” CGG said in the release. “Fast-Track PSDM products will be delivered six months after completion of the acquisition.”
Schlumberger Completes Survey Offshore Malaysia
WesternGeco has completed a hybrid seismic acquisition survey for Roc Oil using its newly deployed multipurpose vessel (MPV)—a first in the industry, Schlumberger said on Aug. 25.
The 340-sq-km (131-sq-mile), 3-D seismic survey was acquired offshore Sarawak, Malaysia, using a triple source array with simultaneous recording by ocean-bottom nodes and a towed-streamer spread, all from a single seismic vessel.
The WG Vespucci MPV acquired the high-quality ocean-bottom seismic (OBS) data required around existing platform obstructions supplemented by streamer seismic data. Simultaneously acquiring the OBS and streamer data without having to employ multiple acquisition vessels and crews resulted in cost reduction and greater efficiency while achieving the survey objectives.
“Providing a hybrid OBS and streamer acquisition option with our multipurpose vessel versus a traditional OBS or towed streamer survey gave the customer a versatile and cost-effective solution to better fit their specific challenges and budget,” said Maurice Nessim, president at WesternGeco. “This industry-first acquisition underscores our commitment to offering our customers innovative approaches to offshore seismic acquisition challenges.”
The WG Vespucci is one of three newly configured MPVs in the WesternGeco fleet. The WG Tasman and WG Cook are equipped with Q-Seabed multicomponent seabed seismic systems.
Oil Firms Preregister For Brazil's Upcoming Presalt Auctions
Nearly a dozen oil companies have filled out initial forms for two upcoming oil exploration rights auctions in Brazil's presalt area, underscoring growing interest in one of the world's most promising oil discoveries in decades, a government official said Aug.24.
Presalt’s second and third auction are scheduled to take place on Oct. 27, allowing oil companies to bid on eight blocks in the Santos and Campos basins.
“Today we have nine that have expressed interest in the second (auction) and ten that have expressed interest in the third,” said Waldyr Barroso, ANP director.
Barroso said the companies had filled out an initial form expressing interest in the bidding process, but would not officially be considered registered until they had completed further requirements and been approved by a committee. Interested companies have until Sept. 8 to register.
—Reuters & Staff Reports