DNO to spud Baeshiqa test in Kurdistan

DNO ASA, Oslo, is preparing to spud the first well on its Baeshiqa license east of Mosul in Iraqi Kurdistan after having raised production at Peshkabir oil field to the northwest to 50,000 b/d.

The first Baeshiqa well will target Cretaceous strata. A second well will target Jurassic and Triassic layers on the same structure. A third well, to be drilled next year, will test Jurassic and Triassic rocks on a separate structure.

DNO holds a 32% interest in the Baeshiqa production-sharing contract. Other interests are ExxonMobil, 32%; Turkish Energy Company, 16%; and Kurdistan Regional Government, 20%.

At Peshkabir field, the recently completed Peshkabir-7 well is producing more than 10,000 b/d from nine Cretaceous zones.

The Peshakabir-6 well established a Cretaceous oil-water contact deeper than expected and is being tested in multiple zones. A workover boosted production of the Peshkabir-3 well to 11,000 b/d from 8,000 b/d.

DNO spudded the Peshkabir-8 well in August and plans to spud the Peshkabir-9 well in November.

Test facilities process Peshkabir production. A central processing plant with capacity of 50,000 b/d will be commissioned by year-end.

DNO is laying a 10-inch, 60,000-b/d pipeline between Peshkabir and Fish Khabur on the border with Turkey. Production from the field now moves by truck and a six inch pipeline.

At nearby Tawke oil field, DNO was preparing to start production from the Tawke-50, drilled to 320 metres in Lower Miocene Jeribe.

DNO expected to complete the Tawke-49 Cretaceous well this month.

The company recently restarted development drilling to reverse natural decline at Tawke, now producing slightly more than 80,000 b/d of oil.

By year-end, it planned to drill two more Tawke wells, one each in the Jeribe and Cretaceous. Two Tawke wells recently were being worked over.

DNO holds a 75% interest in the Tawke production-sharing contract. Its partner is Genel Energy International Ltd, London.

Source: Oil & Gas Journal