Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas has revealed its drilling plans for 2019 on the Orinduik Block located offshore Guyana.
Image: Eco reveals drilling plans for Orinduik Block. Photo: courtesy: suwatpo/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
Highlights:
- Initial 2019 drill plan approved by Eco Atlantic, Total E&P Activities Petrolieres (“Total”) and Tullow Guyana B.V. (“Tullow”), (Operator), (the “Partners”)
- First exploration well on Orinduik to be drilled late May – early June 2019, on the Jethro-Lobe prospect
- The prospect is an Upper Tertiary stratigraphically trapped canyon turbidite
- The targeted prospect is estimated by the Company to hold 250mmbbl of gross prospective resources and the Chance Of Success is estimated to be 44%
- Net cost of first well estimated at USD$7.6m
- Partners finalising synergies of at least two wells for 2019 drilling
The Partners on the Orinduik Block, being Eco Atlantic, Total and Tullow (Operator), approved the initial 2019 work plan and budget for the first exploration well on the Orinduik Block on 30 November 2018.
The initial budget is for drilling the ‘Jethro-Lobe’ prospect to be spud by the end of May – early June 2019. This will be the first well out of at least two well campaigns proposed by the Operator in 2019.
The Partners have approved the purchase of the necessary long lead items and are currently considering the proposals offered by drilling and service contractors who have offered a firm drilling window within the Partners’ envisaged timeframe and competitive rates.
Eco estimates that the approximate net cost to Eco of the first well, targeting the Jethro Lobe prospect, at up to USD $7.6 million. Eco is fully funded for the 2019 campaign having current cash of over USD $20 million, as announced on 29 November 2018.
The Jethro-Lobe prospect, which will be drilled from a conventional drill ship, is an Upper Tertiary stratigraphically trapped canyon turbidite in approximately 1,350 meters of water. The targeted prospect is estimated by the Company to hold 250mmbbl of gross prospective resources and the Chance Of Success is estimated to be 44%.
Eco Atlantic chief operating officer Colin Kinley said: “The Jethro-Lobe well is the first well approved by the Partners for 2019. As announced by Tullow, there are a number of high-potential additional drilling candidates that are on the top of the interpretation list.
“The Partners are currently evaluating the synergies of drilling a second well in this campaign and are assessing rig timing and budget to drill a second candidate.
“We have a great deal of confidence in the selection of the Jethro-Lobe drill candidate; the Partners are unanimous on the selection of the location, reservoir quality, charge and production characteristics and view this candidate as having a high chance of success and potential for a first discovery.
“Our confidence was bolstered even further by the upgraded estimate of the discovered recoverable resource to over 5 billion barrels of oil equivalent on the Stabroek Block, as announced by ExxonMobil and Hess on 3 December 2018.
“Further evaluation of previous discoveries in addition to the tenth discovery on the block, Pluma-1, contributed to the upgrade. Each successful well drilled on Stabroek lowers Eco’s risk on Orinduik.”
Qualified Person’s Statement:
Colin Kinley, Chief Operating Officer of Eco Atlantic, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained within this announcement in his capacity as a qualified person, as required under the AIM rules. Mr Kinley has over 35 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry.
Source: Company Press Release