Total boasts positive test results from South African well

French oil major Total has carried out a drill stem test at its Luiperd-1X well, the second major discovery on Block 11B/12B offshore South Africa, and delivered positive test results that show high condensate yield and excellent reservoir connectivity.

To remind, Total started drilling the Luiperd-1X well in late August 2020, following the arrival of the Deepsea Stavanger drilling rig from Norway to South Africa.

The Luiperd well was drilled to a total depth of about 3,400 meters and encountered 73 meters of net gas condensate pay in well-developed good quality Lower Cretaceous reservoirs.

This significant gas condensate discovery on the Luiperd prospect was announced in late October 2020.

Africa Energy, one of Total’s partners in the block, on Monday announced the results of the drill stem test for the Luiperd-1X well.

The company said that the Luiperd-1X well was opened to flow on 1 November 2020.

After several tests at different choke settings, the well reached a maximum constrained flowrate through a 58/64″ choke of 33 million cubic feet per day of natural gas (MMcfpd) and 4,320 barrels of condensate per day (bcpd), an aggregate of approximately 9,820 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd).

According to Africa Energy, the choke configuration could not be increased due to surface equipment limitations. The absolute open flow (AOF) potential of the well is expected to be significantly higher than the restricted test rates.

Jan Maier, Africa Energy’s VP Exploration, commented, “The Luiperd discovery proves that the Outeniqua Basin offshore South Africa is a world-class hydrocarbon province that remains highly under-explored. Luiperd-1X intersected 85 meters gross sands of which 73 meters is net good quality pay in the main target interval and thicker than prognosed.

“The well reached a total depth of approximately 3,400 meters on October 12, 2020, at which point the drill stem testing program was initiated. We are very pleased with the positive test results that show high condensate yield and excellent reservoir connectivity. These results confirm the joint venture’s decision to proceed with development studies and to engage authorities about commercialization”.

Block 11B/12B is located in the Outeniqua Basin 175 kilometres off the southern coast of South Africa. The block covers an area of approximately 19,000 square kilometres with water depths ranging from 200 to 1,800 meters.

The Paddavissie Fairway in the southwest corner of the block now includes both the Brulpadda and Luiperd discoveries, confirming the prolific petroleum system.

The original five submarine fan prospects in the fairway all have direct hydrocarbon indicators recorded on both 2D and 3D seismic data and intersected in the wells, significantly de-risking future exploration.

Africa Energy holds a 49 per cent of the shares in Main Street 1549 Proprietary Limited, which has a 10 per cent participating interest in Block 11B/12B.

Total E&P South Africa B.V. is the operator and has a 45 per cent participating interest in Block 11B/12B.