UK-based explorer Cairn Energy's latest appraisal well on its SNE discovery offshore Senegal has been hailed a success.
Far Ltd, a partner on SNE, has previously estimated the SNE 2C contingent resource at 468 MMbbl. An updated resource estimate is expected at the firm's preliminary results on 15 March, following the latest, SNE-3 appraisal well. Cairn is now preparing for its next well, BEL-1, on the Belletrix prospect, also offshore Senegal.
The SNE field is in the Sangomar Deep block. Cairn said two drill stem tests were carried out, using the Ocean Rig Athena drillship, within the SNE upper reservoirs, on the the SNE-3 well, which is the second appraisal well on the field.
DST 1a flowed at a maximum rate of ~5,400 b/d and a main flow rate of ~4000 b/d over a 24 hour period from a 15m zone
For DST 1b an additional zone of 5.5m was added and a combined maximum rate of ~5200 b/d measured, with an associated main flow rate of ~4500 b/d over a six hour period
Both main flow periods utilized a 56/64in choke
Multiple samples of oil and gas were recovered to surface from wireline logs and drill stem tests.
The zones were confirmed to be similar reservoir quality and correlation of the principal reservoir units between SNE-1, SNE-2 and SNE-3.
Some 144m of continuous core was taken across the entire reservoir interval with 100% recovery.
Similar oil-down-to and oil-up-to depths were seen as in SNE-1 and SNE-2 – 101m gross (95m in SNE-1 and 103m in SNE-2). Initial indications confirm the same 32 degree API oil quality as seen in SNE-1 and SNE-2 as well.
Cairn Energy Chief Executive Simon Thomson said: “Cairn is delighted with the flow rates from the latest well in the Senegal appraisal program, which validate the scale and growth potential of the SNE field.
"The results have demonstrated the ability of the upper reservoirs to flow at commercially viable rates and we eagerly look forward to the results of the BEL-1 well, which will commence operations shortly.”