Aker Energy is gearing up for a PoD and operation on its DT-CTP
Aker Energy is gearing up for a plan of development and operation on its Deepwater Tano-Cape Three Points (DT-CTP) block off Ghana after an encouraging result at its latest appraisal well.
The operator is wrapping up drilling operations at the Pecan-4A well, which spudded late last year with the drillship Maersk Viking in 2667 metres of water some 166 kilometres southwest of the port town of Takoradi.
The well was drilled to 4870 metres, with Aker saying on Thursday that it successfully proved a deep oil-water contact in the Pecan reservoir.
The block contains seven discoveries, of which Pecan is viewed by the operator as the main one to date.
Chief executive Jan Arve Haugan said on Thursday: “We are pleased to announce the well results, confirming our understanding of the area, as well as the resource base and upside potential in the DT-CTP block.
“Based on these results, we will optimise the plan of development for the Pecan field. There is still a lot of work to be done, including to conclude the phasing of the development, the size of first phase and detailing of the concept.”
Aker has previously said that its target at Pecan is to increase recovery beyond 25% and reduce the development well count below 40.
When Aker chartered the Maersk Drilling unit, it took it for one firm well and two additional optional probes.
Aker appeared to confirm on Thursday that those options would be taken up, saying: “Based on existing subsurface data from seismic, wells drilled and an analysis of the Pecan-4A well result, the existing discoveries are estimated to contain gross contingent resources of 450 million to 550 million barrels of oil equivalent.
“Aker Energy estimates that with the next two appraisal wells to be drilled, the total volumes to be included in a plan of development have the potential to increase to between 600 million to 1 billion boe.”
The company added that “there are identified multiple well targets to be drilled as part of a greater area development”, which would come after submission of the development plan.
A company spokesman said late last year the plan will be submitted by the end of March 2019, an approximate six-month delay compared to the operator’s original target of the third quarter of 2018.
Aker operates the DT-CTP block on 50% and is joined by Russian player Lukoil on 38%, state player Ghana National Petroleum Corporation on 10% and Fueltrade on 2%.
US independent Hess made the seven discoveries on (DT-CTP) when it was operator, with four targeted for development via a floating production, storage and offloading vessel installed at the Pecan find.
Commercial bids from four FPSO players — Modec, SBM Offshore, Bumi Armada and Yinson — were due to be submitted to Hess just before it exited the DT-CTP asset.
Up for grabs at that time was a contract to provide a VLCC-sized FPSO, spread-moored in 2600 metres of water and able to handle about 110,000 barrels per day of oil.
Aker has previously said it believes production will plateau at about 125,000 bpd.
Credit: www.upstreamonline.com
