Portugal-based Galp Energia’s recent drilling campaign at the Tao-1 exploration well in the Tarfaya block off Morocco was unsuccessful, partner Tangiers Petroleum announced 28 July 2014.
Australian-based Tangiers Petroleum, which holds 25% interest in the Tarfaya block, said the Tao-1 well intersected its shallowest and secondary objective, Assaka in the upper Jurassic carbonates, and found no hydrocarbon shows. A full petrophysical evaluation will be carried out next.
The Tao-1 exploration well spud on the 26 June by Rowan’s Ralph Coffman jackup rig. The well is expected to intersect two of three possible objectives within 60 days from spud. Galp will continue drilling toward the primary target, Trident in the middle Jurassic structure.
“The Tao-1 exploration well has been designed to test Trident at its optimal location. Tangiers’ interpret that success at Trident is not co-dependent on the results from Assaka,” Tangiers Petroleum said.
The Tarfaya offshore block is in the Moroccan Atlantic margin and sits at approximately 200m water depth. The block is adjacent to Esso’s Cap Juby heavy oil discovery in Upper Jurassic carbonates. Tangiers Petroleum said that light oil had been previously encountered on the Cap Juby structure in middle Jurassic carbonates.
The Tarfaya block comprises eight contiguous permits covering an area of 11,281sq km. The block is located 600km southwest of Morocco’s capital, Rabat.
Galp Energia operates the Tarfaya block with 50% interest. Its partners include Tangiers Petroleum and Morocco’s national office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) (25%). Galp joined the block in 2012, following a farm-in agreement with Tangiers that required the Portuguese explorer to spend US$40.5 million, which includes a carry on the exploration well capped at $33 million and reimbursement of US$7.5 million for past costs.
Image: Tarfaya map from Tangiers Petroleum
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