Cairn reaches total depth at SNE’s fifth appraisal well

Cairn Energy has reached a total depth of 2,852m at the SNE-5 well off Senegal, which is the first of two firm wells planed to further evaluate the SNE oilfield. 

Cairn, the operator, started drilling the SNE-5 appraisal well in January. The well is located in the southern area of the SNE oil field approximately 2km south east of SNE-3. The second well, SNE-6, is to be drilled immediately after the completion of SNE-5.

The two new wells follow the SNE-2, SNE-3, BEL-1 and SNE-4 appraisal drilling program completed on the SNE oil field in June 2016.

Cairn’s partner in the project, Far Ltd, said on Thursday that the SNE-5 well, the fifth to appraise the SNE oil field, has reached a total depth of 2,852m below the mud line.

Far also informed that a wireline logging and sampling program has been completed and rig operations are progressing with a Drill Stem Test (DST) of the primary reservoir target at this location.

The company also noted that it looks forward to releasing flow test results at the completion of operations in the SNE-5 well.

The SNE-5 well is being drilled by the Stena DrillMAX drillship and together with the follow on SNE-6 well, will evaluate the upper SNE reservoir units, specifically reservoir connectivity and deliverability, by conducting oil flow tests, including interference testing.

SNE-5 and SNE-6 are being drilled to help improve the understanding of the characteristics of the upper SNE reservoir units and ensure potential development wells in these units are placed to optimize oil recovery and maximize value per well.

Cairn’s other partner in the project, the Australian energy giant Woodside Energy, expects first oil from the SNE discovery between 2021 and 2023. The development concept for the field involves subsea wells linked to an FPSO.

Woodside’s estimate of the discovery is 560 MMbbl of recoverable oil at the 2C confidence level.

Offshore Energy Today Staff