The Atwood Achiever drillship spud the MZ-1 well and commenced drilling operations within the Mazagan permit, offshore Morocco, announced Pura Vida Energy. Based on the well plan, drilling is expected to continue for approximately two to three months.
The MZ-1 well is positioned at a location where a single well can test multiple stacked targets in each of the Cretaceous and Jurassic levels. In the Cretaceous, the well is expected to intersect large structural four way dip closure at two levels. In the Jurassic, the well is expected to intersect large turbidite basin floor fans which are combined stratigraphic/structural traps. The Jurassic fans are interbedded within the expected source rocks of the basin and thus they are ideally positioned to receive migrating hydrocarbons directly from the source rocks into the fan systems and carrier beds.
In the event that the fan systems are not effective traps, then migrant hydrocarbons are likely to pass vertically up into the younger Cretaceous structural anticlinal traps. MZ-1 will also penetrate the shallower Mid-Miocene turbidite channel fairway providing information on the Tertiary play that is expected to provide useful data in determining the second well in the drilling campaign.
A full suite of logging while drilling and wireline logs are planned to be run over the course of the MZ-1 well in both success and failure case scenarios to maximize the learnings for all future exploration. Planned logs include gamma ray, resistivity, porosity and density sonic measurements which provide the basis for fundamental rock evaluation. Drill cuttings, mud gasses and mud samples are planned to be recorded and analyzed immediately after installation of the blowout preventer and down to the final total depth of the well. A fluid sampling and pressure measurement program are expected to be conducted to determine formation fluids and pressures followed by rotary side wall cores for sampling rocks at specific intervals for both reservoir and non-reservoir properties. Finally, a check-shot survey is planned to more accurately ascertain borehole seismic data and velocity information.
Preliminary analysis of the available well data is anticipated to be completed within a few days after drilling through and logging each zone, at which time preliminary results for each zone are expected to be released to market.
The Atwood Achiever is a dynamically positioned ultra deepwater drillship capable of operating in water depths of 3658m (12,000ft) and drilling to depths of 12,200m (40,000ft).
Image: MZ-1 map/Pura Vida Energy
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