Kosmos Energy is to plug and abandon its CB-1 well in the Cap Boujdour permit area offshore Morocco after gas and condensate was found – but not in commercial quantities.
Despite the non-commerciality of the well, Kosmos CEO Andrew Inglis says the results are positive, proving a working petroleum system.
“While not a commercial find, this first well in the [frontier Laâyoune] basin has significantly de-risked further exploration by demonstrating a working petroleum system, including the presence of a hydrocarbon charge, as well as effective trap and seal,” he says.
Kosmos’ well, drilled using the Atwood Achiever drillship (pictured), about 170km offshore in 2135m water depth, is the latest exploration well offshore Morocco, which has seen increasing interest in recent years, both from junior operators and majors, including BP and Chevron.
In November, Genel Energy, led by former BP CEO Tony Hayward, completed well testing on the SM-1 well in the Sidi Moussa license, off Morocco.
Freeport-McMoRan Oil & gas and partner Pura Vida Energy are planning to drill an up to US$136 million well offshore Morocco targeting "well over" 1.4-3 billion barrels total gross mean resources.
The well, Mazagan-1 (MX-1), which contains the Ouanoukrim prospect, will be drilled to 5600m with potential to deepen to 6150m total vertical depth subsea using Atwood Oceanic's newbuild Atwood Achiever drillship
Not all wells have been a success. Galp’s Tao-1 well last year in the Tarfaya block was unsuccessful, as was the Hagar Qim-1 well, in Area 4.
The CB-1 well was designed to open the frontier Laâyoune basin by testing the Al Khayr Prospect. The penetrated about 14m of net gas and condensate pay in clastic reservoirs over a gross hydrocarbon bearing interval of approximately 500m.
“The well results confirm the substantial exploration potential of our 22,000sq km Cap Boujdour block, which includes a diverse range of independent plays and fairways with multiple prospects,” says Inglis.
“Going forward, the key exploration challenge is finding reservoirs of commercial size and quality.”
Kosmos says it will now analyze the data from the CB-1 well and integrate it with recently acquired additional 3D seismic data. This analysis will be used to chose the location and timing of a potential second well.
The Atwood Achiever drillship is now due to Tortue Prospect offshore Mauritania.
Kosmos operates the Cap Boujdour license with 55% equity and is joined by its partners Morocco’s Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (25%) and Capricorn Exploration and Development Company Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cairn Energy (20%).
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