Karoon Gas Australia confirmed a 213m gross oil column at its Echidna-1 well offshore Brazil.
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The Olinda Star. From Karoon. |
The exploration well is located in the Santos basin, in Block S-M-1102, about 20km northeast of Kangaroo on the eastern flank of the “Emu” salt diaper complex.
Karoon says that oil was confirmed from wireline pressure data across the Paleocene and Maastrichtian aged reservoir intervals. The Paleocene reservoir interval has a gross thickness of 75m with an average porosity of 25%. Oil recovered from wireline MDT samples is 39.5 degree API with a GOR of 750 scf/bbl. Physical oil samples recovered measure a 39.5 degree API oil gravity.
The Maastrichtian reservoir interval has a gross thickness of 113m with an average porosity of 21%. A deeper Maastrichtian oil column was also intersected in a separate 7m sand having an average 23% porosity. The interpretation of oil is supported by natural shows and a pressure-defined oil gradient, Karoon said.
The well tested a similar salt flank play first proven by Kangaroo-1 and later confirmed by Kangaroo-2 and its two sidetracks.
“The Echidna discovery represents another significant achievement for Karoon,” says Robert Hosking Karoon managing director. “Echidna adds incremental resource to Karoon’s discovered Kangaroo oil field which further supports Karoon’s ambitions to develop an integrated production hub in the Santos Basin.”
The Echidna partners will conduct a production testing program over the Paleocene reservoir section as soon as preparations are complete, which is expected later this week. The Maastrichtian reservoir section is set to be tested as part of the follow up drilling program.
Karoon says geoscience and engineering work will continue over the coming months to characterize the Kangaroo and Echidna oil fields. Further appraisal drilling is planned to begin in the near term with pre-FEED studies to be conducted in tandem with drilling.
Karoon announced the Echidna-1 discovery on 13 April, marking its third in the Santos drilling campaign. The well reached the planned total depth of 2379m using the Olinda Star semisubmersible. The well was spudded on 31 March and was expected to have a successful outcome of possible development due to its large size and proximity to Kangaroo.
Previous wells in the Santos basin drilling campaign include Kangaroo-1 and Kangaroo-2.
Kangaroo-2, 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.
In March, Kangaroo-1 showed no hydrocarbons were intersected at the exploration well after reaching 3170m.
Karoon has 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.
Karoon is the operator of Block S-M-1102 and holds 65% interest with partner Pacific Rubiales (35%).
Read more:
Karoon hits at third Santos well
Karoon spuds third Santos well
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