Calvalley Petroleum to redrill well after hints of oil
Posted: 16 October 2007
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The drilling programme for Calvalley Petroleum's Malik-1 exploration well was modified to prove further occurrences of commercial hydrocarbon reservoir in fractured basement rocks.
Malik-1, located on Block 9 in Yemen , has provided the company with the first indication of oil migration and potential entrapment of medium gravity crude oil within the Qishin Clastics, Saar Naifa.
The well, which was spud on July 27, will be re-drilled horizontally to attempt to encounter a multiple fracture system, which saw slight traces of oil.
Canadian-Calvalley Petroleum anticipates testing the fractured basement potential in Malik-1 as well as the oil shows in the Qishn and Saar formations. It also indicated a possibility of hydrocarbon within the granite basement in the central part of Block 9.
Image logs run over this upper basement section confirm the presence of open, natural fractures and therefore the possibility of having intersected a fractured basement play.
“Such fractured basement production is an important component of the Yemeni basin development,” the report said.
Malik-1, which is 10 km long and one to two km wide, was drilled on the extreme eastern end of the structure at the edge of the apparent Qishin level closure, a world-class reservoir.
In addition, the seismic crew currently active in Block 9 has been redirected to acquire another seven lines (84 kms) of 2D seismic data, in order to firm up additional locations to the west of the Malik-1 well.
The vertical portion of the well in the basement will be cemented and is expected to be completed within the next two weeks.
This testing program will commence upon drilling completion. Positive results may lead to additional appraisal drilling at the Malik structure. |