Kosmos Energy hit additional hydrocarbon pay at its Tortue-1 exploration well offshore Mauritania, western North Africa.
 |
|
Mauritania map. From Kosmos. |
Tortue-1 is located in Block C8, about 285km southwest of Nouakchott in 2700m water depth.
Dallas-based Kosmos said Tortue-1 intersected approximately 10m (32ft) of net hydrocarbon pay in the lower Albian section, which is currently interpreted to be gas. This is in addition to the previously announced 107m (351ft) of net pay encountered in the Cenomanian, the primary objective.
Tortue-1 was drilled to a total depth of approximately 5100m, past its primary Cenomanian objective to obtain deeper stratigraphic information and enable seismic calibration of the Albian, which Kosmos will test in subsequent wells. The Lower Cenomanian is comprised of three excellent quality multi-Darcy reservoirs totaling 88m (288ft) in thickness over a gross hydrocarbon-bearing interval of 160m (528ft). A fourth zone 19m (62ft) thick was penetrated within the secondary Upper Cenomanian target over a gross hydrocarbon bearing interval of 150m (492ft).
Drilled using the Atwood Achiever drillship, the Tortue-1 well was drilled at a total cost of approximately US$125 million.
“We are encouraged by the presence of additional hydrocarbons in the deeper portion of the well. This suggests we have a working hydrocarbon system in both the Albian and Cenomanian sequences. While the Albian was not the primary objective of the Tortue-1 well, the presence of additional hydrocarbons in the Albian further de-risks other prospects in the Greater Tortue Complex, which include primary reservoir targets in both the Albian and underlying Aptian,” Brian F. Maxted, chief exploration officer said.
In April, Kosmos announced Tortue-1 intersected 107m (351ft) of net hydrocarbon pay in the primary Lower Cenomanian objective. According to a Kosmos presentation in March, the company estimated the Tortue prospect contains 2.1 billion boe.
Chevron’s wholly owned subsidiary, Chevron Mauritania Exploration, acquired a 30% non-operated interest in the C8, C12 and C13 contract areas under production sharing contracts. Chevron has an option to elect to participate at a 30% interest in Ahmeyim, subject to Chevron paying a disproportionate share of their costs related to the Tortue-1 exploration well. The blocks are contiguous, range in water depth between 1000 and 3000m, and have combined acreage of approximately 27,000sq km.
The Tortue discovery area has been renamed Ahmeyim. Kosmos currently owns 90% in the Ahmeyim discovery with partner Société Mauritanienne Des Hydrocarbures et de Patrimoine Minier (SMHPM) (10%).
Read more:
Subscribe
