E&P Notes (December 2022)
Authors: JPT staff _ 
Published: January 2023

ExxonMobil, Partners Tout New Angola Block 15 Discovery

ExxonMobil has made a new oil discovery with the Bavuca South-1 exploration well in Block 15 offshore Angola. The well is part of the Angola Block 15 redevelopment project targeting to deliver around 40,000 B/D of new oil production.

According to ExxonMobil, the well encountered 30 m of hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone. The probe is located approximately 365 km northwest of Luanda and was drilled in 1100 m of water by the Valaris DS-9 rig.

As the block’s operator, ExxonMobil is leading the installation of new technology and a multiyear drilling program aimed at adding new production volumes to help offset natural production declines.

There have been 17 previous discoveries on Block 15: Hungo, Kissanje, Marimba, and Dikanza in 1998; Chocalho and Xikomba in 1999; Mondo, Saxi, and Batuque in 2000; Mbulumbumba, Vicango, and Mavacola in 2001; Reco Reco in 2002; and Clochas, Kakocha, Tchihumba, and Bavuca in 2003.

ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited is the operator of Block 15 and holds a 36% interest. BP Exploration (Angola) Limited holds 24%, ENI Angola Exploration BV holds 18%, Equinor Angola Block 15 AS holds 12%, and Sonangol P&P holds 10%. The National Agency for Petroleum, Gas, and Biofuels (ANPG) is the Block 15 concessionaire.

Neptune Energy Begins Drilling Calypso Exploration Well

Neptune Energy has spudded its Calypso exploration well 6407/88 S in the Norwegian Sea utilizing semisubmersible Deepsea Yantai. The Calypso prospect is located 14 km northwest of the Draugen field and 22 km northeast of the Njord A platform, within the Neptune-operated PL938 license.

Calypso is positioned within one of Neptune’s core areas on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. In the event of a commercial discovery, Calypso could potentially be tied back to existing infrastructure.

The reservoir target is the middle and lower Jurassic formations and is expected to be reached at a depth of approximately 2960 m.

The drilling program comprises a main bore (6407/8-8 A) with an optional sidetrack (6407/8-8 S) based on the outcome of the exploration well.

Neptune Energy operates the well with a 30% working interest. Partners include OKEA ASA, 30%; Pandion Energy AS, 20%; and Vår Energi ASA, 20%.

Petrobras Strikes Oil Near Sepia Field

Petrobras has a new oil find at its 4-BRSA-1386D-RJS (Pedunculo) well in the extreme northwest of the Sépia field in Brazil’s Santos Basin. The well spud in late July in a water depth of 2200 m, and the oil-bearing interval was verified by logs and fluid samples. According to Petrobras, the effective thickness of the oil column is one of the largest ever recorded in Brazil.

The discovery is in the Sepia coparticipation area and comprises the Sepia block acquired by Petrobras (100%), and the Sépia-ECO block, which was acquired in December 2021 in the ANP’s second bidding round of surplus volumes. Petrobras (operator) was awarded Sépia-ECO along with partners TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy, and Petronas Petróleo Brasil Ltda., with Pré-Sal Petróleo SA as manager.

The Sépia shared reservoir is currently producing 170,000 B/D.

Petrobras also successfully completed the test at the pioneer well 1-BRSA-1381-SPS (Curaçao) in the pre-salt of the southwestern part of the Santos Basin. The new discovery is located 240 km from the city of Santos-SP, at a depth of 1905 m, in the Aram Block.

The test evaluated a thick range of pre-salt carbonate reservoirs, in which it was possible to know its productivity through dynamic production data, according to Petrobras. During the test, oil samples were collected that will be characterized by laboratory analyses. The consortium will continue its activities in the Aram Block, aiming to evaluate the dimensions and commerciality of the new accumulation.

The block was acquired in March 2020, in the sixth bidding round of the ANP, under the production-sharing regime, with Pré-Sal Petróleo SA as manager.

Petrobras is the operator of the block (80% interest) in partnership with CNPC 20%.

Shell, Murphy Eye Fresh Mexican Gulf Wildcats

Shell is preparing to drill an exploration test in the Salina basin in offshore Mexico. According to Mexican hydrocarbons regulator CNH, the supermajor intends to spud the Jokol-1EXP wildcat in Block 28 starting in January 2023. The operator plans to use drillship Maersk Voyager for the work. The rig has been drilling the Zanderij-1 probe in Block 42 offshore Suriname and is expected to depart for Mexico soon.

The Jokol-1EXP well is set to test a prospective light-oil reservoir at final depth of around 5586 m. The wellsite is roughly 40 km southwest of the Tamha-1EXP well.

Meanwhile, Murphy Oil is drilling ahead on the deepwater Tulum-1EXP, where it hopes to tap 150 million BOE in reserves off the coast of Tabasco. The operator’s Mexican subsidiary, Murphy Sur, received authorization from CNH earlier this year.

Murphy will use the Valaris DPS-5 semisubmersible to target lower Miocene and Oligocene formations and is drilling Tulum-1EXP as a deviated well to a depth of 5569 m.

Tulum-1EXP is the second exploratory well of the Block 5 consortium led by Murphy Sur (40%), with partners PC Carigali Mexico Operations, Petronas’ Mexican subsidiary, and Wintershall Dea holding 30% each. Block 5 is in the center of the highly touted Salina Basin, a deepwater area in Mexico with significant hydrocarbon potential.

CNOOC Has Certified Gas Find With Baodao 21-1

The proved gas-in-place of CNOOC’s Baodao 21-1 gas field has been certified at 50 billion m3 by the Chinese government. Baodao 21-1 gas field is in Baodao Sag, Qiongdongnan Basin, Western South China Sea in water depths ranging from 660 to 1570 m. The main gas-bearing zone is the Paleogene Lingshui formation, and the discovery is in condensate gas reservoirs.

The discovery well Baodao 21-1 completed at a total depth of 5188 m, encountering 113 m of gas pay. The well is tested to produce an average of 587,000 m3 of natural gas per day.

Baodao 21-1 is the first deepwater, deep-stratum large gas field in the South China Sea, realizing the biggest discovery in more than half a century in Songnan-Baodao Sag, according to CNOOC.

ADNOC Sets Well-Length Record

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) said it set a new world record for the longest oil and gas well at its Upper Zakum Concession. Stretching 50,000 ft, the well is around 800 ft longer than the previous world record set in 2017. ADNOC Drilling drilled the well from Umm Al Anbar, one of ADNOC Offshore’s artificial islands.

The extended-reach wells will tap into an undeveloped part of the giant Upper Zakum reservoir with the potential to increase the field’s production capacity by 15,000 B/D.

Umm Al Anbar is one of Upper Zakum’s four artificial islands, serving as a hub for offshore drilling and operations.

The producer added that its use of the artificial island concept has resulted in cost savings and environmental benefits compared to conventional approaches that traditionally require more offshore installations and infrastructure.

New Tampen Area Wells Planned

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate issued to Equinor, Aker BP, and Var Energi a pair of drilling permits for exploration wells in the Tampen area of the Norwegian North Sea. The partnership has applied to drill the 34/6-6A wildcat in PL-554 using drilling rig Transocean Spitsbergen. The well is located to the northeast of the Visund field. Equinor will operate the well with a 40% working interest. Aker BP and Var Energi each hold a 30% stake.

The second probe, 34/6-6S, was also permitted by the same partnership in the same license.

Petronas Strengthens Partnership With TotalEnergies and Shell Through New PSC

Petronas has signed a production-sharing contract (PSC) with TotalEnergies EP Malaysia, Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd (PCSB), Sabah Shell Petroleum Company Limited (SSPC), and Shell Sabah Selatan Sdn Bhd (SSS) for Block 2K, an ultradeepwater block located off the coast of Sabah. Block SB 2K, with depths up to 3000 m, covering 1952 km2, is in the northwest ultradeepwater area within a proven hydrocarbon basin.

Under the PSC terms, TotalEnergies will be the operator with a 34.9% participating interest. PCSB holds a 40% participating interest while the remaining 25.1% is equally split between the other two partners, SSPC and SSS.

The signing of the PSC for Block 2K completes the licensing of the five ultradeepwater blocks off the coast of Sabah, along the newly identified Oligo-Miocene carbonate trend proven by Tepat-1 oil discovery in Block N in 2018. Block 2V was signed last year followed by Blocks 2W and X early this year.

A total of four wells are expected to be drilled in these blocks in 2022 and 2023.