MZ-1 offshore Morocco dry for Freeport

Freeport-McMoRan's MZ-1 deepwater exploration well offshore Morocco has reached total depth without finding oil, according to partner Pura Vida Energy.

The well, on the Mazagan permit, was drilled through the three prognosed Jurassic fans and reached a final depth of 6150m subsea true vertical depth (SSTVD) within Triassic aged sediments. 

Preliminary results from available drilling data (excluding wireline logs) indicate that no oil shows have been encountered. After completion of wireline logging, the well is expected to be plugged and abandoned as planned.

The well was drilled using the deep water drillship Atwood Achiever (pictured) under a rig share contract with Kosmos Energy, which was due to include a second well on the Mazagan permit. The contract has now been cancelled and the operators are seeking another rig, in order to take advantage of lower rig rates in the market, said Pura Vida. 

Under the farmin agreement between the operator and Pura Vida entered into in January 2013, the drilling of the second well must be commenced by no later than September 2016.

Pura Vida’s managing director Damon Neaves says: “Although this result is a set-back, we will now renew our efforts in pursuing the prospectivity in the Mazagan permit with the benefit of the information we have gained from this well. Mazagan represents a large acreage position containing multiple play types and prospects, what we’ve learned from MZ-1 will help us define the best prospect for our next well on the Mazagan permit."