Tullow Oil's latest "ambitious wildcat" well offshore Suriname, south America, has failed to make a commercial discovery.
The Araku-1 exploration was drilled to a total depth of 2685m and penetrated the objectives of the Araku prospect. No significant reservoir quality rocks were encountered, although logging and sampling proved the presence of gas condensate, says Tullow. The well is now being plugged and abandoned.
The Araku well was drilled in Block 54 in about 1000m water depth using the Noble Bob Douglas drillship.
Tullow had said Araku was a large structural trap, which has a resource potential estimated at over 500 MMbbl. A 3D seismic survey was acquired over the block in 2015.
Tullow Oil operates Block 54 with a 30% interest alongside joint venture partners, Statoil (50% interest) and Noble Energy (20% interest). The firm also operates Block 47 offshore Suriname.
Tullow says: "Important geological insights gained from this well, in combination with high quality 3D seismic data, have de-risked deeper plays which offer significant future exploration potential in the Group’s acreage."
Angus McCoss, Exploration Director, said: “The Araku-1 well was an ambitious wildcat exploration well that was drilled efficiently and at very low cost. While we have not made a commercial discovery, we are encouraged by recovering gas condensate from the well and remain fully committed to exploration in Suriname and Guyana. Tullow continues to pursue the considerable prospectivity and potential of this large license and the wider region. We will now consider our next steps with our Joint Venture partners.”
Subscribe
