Byron moves to well completion phase in Gulf of Mexico

Byron Energy has started completion for production operations on the SM 71 F1 well in the South Marsh Island Block 71 (SM 71) lease in the Gulf of Mexico ahead of production start in March. 

Byron Energy is the operator of the SM 71 lease with a 50 percent working interest and the other 50 percent interest in the lease is held by Otto Energy.

Otto Energy said on Monday that the Ensco 68 drilling rig was repositioned over the SM 71 F1 well and operations to complete the well as a producing well in the D5 Sand were underway.

This marks the end of drilling operations which began in early December 2017. During this time two new wells were drilled in the initial development phase of the SM 71 project, both of which were successful.

The SM 71 F1 well was drilled to a depth of 7,477 feet measured depth in April of 2016 and logged a total of 151 feet of true vertical thickness (TVT) net hydrocarbons in four discrete sands. The primary target of the well was the D5 Sand, a prolific oil producing sand in other portions of the SM 73 salt dome field. The F1 well logged 91 feet TVT net oil pay in the D5 Sand and the joint venture is committed to the construction of a manned tripod production facility on that basis.

Platform on location. Production in March

In November 2017, the SM 71 F platform was set on location, and the Ensco 68 drilling rig was mobilized to begin drilling operations.

The SM 71 F2 well was drilled to a total depth of 8,615 measured depth (MD) in late December and logged a total of 203 feet TVT net oil in four sands including the D5 Sand and the previously untested B65 Sand.

Otto announced that a third well, the SM 71 F3, would then be drilled to further develop the D5 Sand. In January 2018, the F3 well was drilled to a depth of 7,714 feet MD and logged oil in five sands, including 175 feet TVT of oil in the D5 Sand.

According to the company, completion operations on all three wells would take about six weeks. Modern sand control techniques common to the Gulf of Mexico will be utilized to optimize production rates and provide longevity to each well.

During completion work, only limited flowback will be possible, and production rates will be established only as each well is placed into production. Piping and instrumentation work on the SM 71 F platform is nearing completion and production start-up will begin in March 2018. The wells will begin producing sequentially as the new facility is brought online.

Otto’s managing director, Matthew Allen, said: “We are very excited to be moving to the completion phase of the development operations having finished the very successful drilling program. Not only will the drilling results significantly increase reserves, but the joint venture has now confirmed the J1, B55, B65 and C10 Sands are worthy of further evaluation as potential future drilling prospects which, in a success case, would be produced through the SM 71 F production platform.”

Allen added: “We now look forward to commencing production in March 2018 with production rates ramping up over several weeks as the wells are brought online.”