Ophir Energy announced successful results of its three-well appraisal programme on the Jodari field, Block 1 Tanzania.
Ophir holds 40% of Blocks 1, 3 and 4; the BG Group operates with 60%.
The Ophir-BG Joint Venture has successfully completed appraisal drilling on the Jodari asset, Block 1 offshore Tanzania. Three wells were drilled into the discovery: Jodari South-1, Jodari South ST-1 (a deviated side-track) and Jodari North-1.
The appraisal programme achieved its objectives:
Jodari South-1 was drilled 3.5km southwest of the Jodari-1 discovery well in 1,040m of water to a total depth of 3,441m TVDSS and was designed to evaluate the southern end of the Jodari field. The well was side-tracked to drill Jodari South ST-1 and drilled to 3,282m TVDSS as a high angle (sub-horizontal) well into the reservoir. Jodari North-1 was then drilled 6km north of the original Jodari-1 discovery well in 1,288m of water to 3,389m TVDSS to evaluate the northern accumulation.
The Jodari South-1 and Jodari North-1 wells encountered gas columns of 50m and 32.4m respectively. These appraisal results were on prognosis and have confirmed the widespread, high quality Oligocene reservoir properties. Gross recoverable resources for the Jodari asset have been re-confirmed at a mean case of 3.4TCF, with an upside P10 case of 3.7TCF. Separately the Jodari South ST-1 has confirmed the viability of high angle or horizontal development wells. This will help development planning and will reduce the number of producing wells required and therefore field development costs.
The Deep Sea Metro 1 drillship has now moved to the Mzia discovery to drill the Mzia-2 appraisal well, located 4km to the southeast of the Mzia-1 discovery well. Mzia-2 is expected to complete in late January 2013. Thereafter the rig will return to the Jodari asset to perform a drill stem test (DST). After the DST, the Joint Venture expects to recommence exploration in Block 1.
Interpretation of the 3D seismic data recently acquired in the eastern area of Block 1 continues. Basin floor fans and amalgamated channel sequences of Tertiary age have been interpreted; both are potentially analogous to those seen on the adjacent, Mozambique side of the Rovuma Delta.
Nick Cooper, CEO of Ophir said: “The appraisal programme has significantly de-risked the Jodari field underlining its potential to anchor Tanzania’s first multi-train LNG development. The Ophir-BG Joint Venture will now appraise the Mzia discovery and return to Jodari-1 to conduct Tanzania’s first flow test. Thereafter the Joint Venture expects to return to high impact exploration drilling in Block 1 during Q1 2013”.
[mappress] LNG World News Staff, December 12, 2012; Image: Ophir