Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) announced today a significant new oil discovery in the coastal waters of the south-east Asian sultanate. The discovery, named Geronggong, is situated in the 3rd Offshore Acreage Area, approximately 100km offshore where water depth is approximately 1000m, the deepest water depth in which BSP has discovered hydrocarbons in Bruneian acreage.
BSP drilled the discovery utilizing the deepwater drillingship Noble Phoenix. Prior to its arrival in Brunei, the drillship has undergone refurbishment and recertification on their thrusters, riser and blow out preventer (BOP) systems, leading to full compliance with the high standards of Shell’s Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) criteria for deepwater drilling.
“I am delighted that the ongoing high success rates of near field exploration in Brunei in the last years have been augmented by this significant volume addition in the deepwater”, said Ceri Powell, Shell’s Executive Vice President of Exploration Upstream International, “It is testament to the quality of the technical exploration analysis undertaken within Brunei Shell Petroleum, supported by the latest technologies and knowledge sharing from within Shell.”
Follow-up plans involve assessment of the full field recovery potential, including further appraisal drilling over the next two years.
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Source: BSP, March 14, 2011; Image: Noble Corporation