- Successfully perforated from 825.7 to 845.5 metres.
- Combined low permeability and low gas saturations at this location.
- Enriched database facilitates study of interpreted prospective unconventional gas potential.
Predator Oil & Gas Holdings, the Jersey-based Oil and Gas Company with producing hydrocarbon operations and exploration activity focussed on Trinidad and Morocco, has announced a preliminary well testing update for the MOU-6 well, onshore Morocco.
MOU-6 preliminary well testing update.
The MOU-6 well was successfully perforated under-balanced with the larger 4.5” TCP guns over 19.8 metres of gross upper interval of the TGB-6 Fan from 825.7 to 845.5 metres.
The MDT logging tool recorded a formation pressure of 1195 psi at 813.27 metres depth, that was not fully stabilised.
Nitrogen lift recovered only diesel and brine attributable to the completion fluid used.
There are several possibilities for the lack of inflow from the formation into the wellbore.
- Extreme low permeability of the rock formation at this location – possible.
- Severe Formation Damage (High Skin Factor) – unlikely.
- Mechanical Blockage Downhole if the perforating tunnels collapse in relatively unconsolidated formations – possible.
- Combined low permeability with low gas saturations – more likely.
Post-well desktop and laboratory studies based on the new additional data acquired for this well will investigate the above issues.
MOU-6 and the post-well studies will contribute to the planned independent study of the prospective unconventional gas potential, as interpreted, of the area tested by MOU-1, MOU-3 and MOU-6 through a calibration with the producing areas of eastern Romania and Western Ukraine carried out by those with specific experience in these areas.
The final processed NuTech logs for MOU-6 show very much lower computed permeability, gas saturations and porosities compared to MOU-1, MOU-3 and MOU-4. There is a very close correlation between the NuTech logs for MOU-6 and the observed well performance.
MOU-6 has been suspended to allow for potential deepening of the well to the TGB-4 interval.
Shallow gas shows (up to 2.69%) have been sampled for compositional analysis.
Forward Plan
MOU-6 satisfied the remaining work programme commitment for the First Extension Period of the Petroleum Agreement.
The six wells drilled to date in what was an undrilled frontier area has established a number of new prospective hydrocarbon plays mainly for the Tertiary. In addition the Jurassic and Triassic remains to be evaluated further. The presence of salt has been established.
Further work is focussed on
- Evaluating the possible potential for unconventional gas through a series of well interventions.
- Costing a programme to deepen MOU-5 to the Trias to assess a potential for thermogenic gas and associated helium.
- Assessing the Jurassic potential for gas and possibly oil in the western part of the licence area.
The licence area is a considerable asset requiring further drilling and 2D and 3D seismic.
An enriched database in a new frontier area has been established. The expertise gathered will be used to align with a partner capable of taking exploration forward as well as investing in further work to determine the potential of a prospective conventional/unconventional gas opportunity.
Paul Griffiths, Chief Executive Officer of Predator Oil & Gas Holdings Plc commented:
'We are naturally disappointed that MOU-6 has not delivered in line with pre-drill expectations.
However, the first successful perforation of the target formation and the well data collected is invaluable in terms of helping to calibrate the potential for gas interpreted by NuTech log analysis in MOU-1, MOU-3 and MOU-4.
Emphasis will now concentrate on partner negotiations.
In the meantime the operating team is in the process of transferring to Trinidad, where the Snowcap-3 well is the focus of drilling preparations. The first of two instalments of deferred consideration for the acquisition of the former Challenger Energy Group’s business and assets in Trinidad in 2025 has been completed.'
Source: Predator Oil & Gas
