Key development parameters like well deliverability, fluid composition and reservoir connectivity have all been established through the DST carried out by the Atwood Achiever drillship on the well located in nearly 2,700m of water depth.
Kosmos has reported a sustained flow of the Tortue-1 well at an equipment-constrained rate of nearly 60 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d). This, the Bermuda-based oil and gas company says was during the main, extended flow period at minimal pressure drawdown.
Tortue gas through the initial analysis of the collected fluid samples has been determined to be ideal for liquefaction considering the low levels of liquids and minimal impurities.
The oil and gas firm believes that the DST results have given confidence in well designs which it says are each capable of producing nearly 200 MMcf/d.
Kosmos Energy chairman and CEO Andrew G. Inglis said: “The positive results from the DST confirm that the Tortue field is a world-class resource and validates the assumptions that underpin our development concept.
“The combination of high well rates, large connected volume per well together with a gas well-suited for liquefaction is why we believe Tortue is one of the lowest cost pre-FID greenfield LNG projects. The Kosmos BP partnership remains aligned on delivering a final investment decision for the project in 2018 and first gas in 2021.”
Also the connected volume per well was found to be on par with the current development scheme through the DST. Kosmos stated that these put together with the high well rate is likely to pave way for a small number of development wells in comparison to equivalent schemes.
Further optimization of field development will be done by using the data collected from the DST. The data is also expected to help in refining process design parameters that are key to the front end engineering and design (FEED) process which is due to commence later in the year.
Engineering and construction firm KBR had recently bagged the pre-FEED contract from BP for the development of the Tortue field.
Kosmos with a stake of 28% is the exploration operator of Block C-8 which contains the Tortue field. Oil and gas major BP has a stake of 62% while Societe Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures et de Patrimoine Minier (SMHPM) holds the remainder 10% stake.
Image: Kosmos found success in the gas drill test of the Tortue-1 exploration well. Photo: courtesy of suwatpo/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
