Karoon Gas Australia spudded its third well in the Santos basin drilling campaign, offshore Brazil.
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Map of the Santos basin, from Karoon. |
The Echidna-1 exploration well is located in exploration block S-M-1102, situated about 20km northeast of Kangaroo on the eastern flank of a salt diapir in a similar geological setting to the Kangaroo oil field.
Karoon expects the reservoir section to be penetrated this month, within approximately three weeks, with the well reaching 2400m.
According to Karoon, 3D seismic at Echidna shows excellent seismic anomalies similar to those seen in Kangaroo-2 where in some reservoirs the oil water contact (flat spot) has been imaged, boosting confidence in the presence of oil. Based on the new higher resolution seismic data, the faulting density in the Echidna prospect appears to be less than that seen in surrounding fields and prospects, reducing the complexity of any potential oil accumulation. The Paleocene and Maastrichtian sands in the Echidna prospect likely were deposited in shallower marine settings, resulting in an increased likelihood of cleaner and better reservoirs.
The Australian company is expecting a successful outcome of a possible development for the well due to its large size and proximity to Kangaroo.
Santos drilling campaign
Karoon’s Santos drilling campaign is using the Olinda Star semisubmersible drilling rig. The campaign includes Blocks S-M-1037, S-M-1101, S-M-1102, S-M-1165 and S-M-1166 in which Karoon is the operator with 65% interest. Partner Pacific Rubiales holds the remaining 35%.
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Olinda Star. From Karoon. |
The contract with Petrobras provides Karoon with one additional option well allowing flexibility for further appraisal of the Kangaroo oil discovery, or to possibly target other prospects.
The drilling campaign began in November 2014.
Kangaroo
Karoon’s nearby Kangaroo-2 well, located in Block S-M-1165, is the second sidetrack well that confirmed a 250m gross oil column in the Paleocene and Maastrichtian aged reservoirs in February. The down-dip sidetrack well was drilled to a depth of 2745m. Five reservoir fluid samples were recovered by wireline from a 37m gross oil column with a net to gross of 60% and an average porosity of 27%. One sample was opened on the surface and contained 2.9 litres of 39° API oil.
The Kangaroo-1 well has not been so successful. In March, no hydrocarbons were intersected at the exploration well after reaching 3170m. The well intersected a good thick sealing unit before penetrating a thick sequence of Paleocene to Campanian interbedded sands and shales, however, the lack of hydrocarbons is attributed to a lack of oil migration charge into the structure, previously recognized as the main risk with this prospect, Karoon said.
Read more:
No pay for Karoon’s Kangaroo-1
Karoon hopping with Kangaroo-2
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