BHP finds hydrocarbons in Trinidad and Tobago well
BHP, formerly known as BHP Billiton, has encountered hydrocarbons in its Bélé-1 exploration well located offshore Trinidad & Tobago.
The Bélé-1 exploration well is located in Block 23(a), where BHP is the operator with a 70% interest. Water depth at the site is 2,102 metres.
In an operational review on the 17th April BHP said that, during the March 2019 quarter, the Transocean-owned Deep-water Invictus drillship had mobilised to Trinidad and Tobago for Phase 3 of the company’s deep-water drilling campaign.
This includes three wells testing three prospects in the Northern licenses around the Bongos discovery, which is located in Block TTDAA 14.
Bélé-1, the first of these wells, was spud on the 2nd March and encountered hydrocarbons.
Drilling is still in progress and assessment is ongoing. Total well depth is expected to be 3,693 metres.
According to Transocean’s latest fleet status report issued in February, the Deep-water Invictus drillship’s contract with BHP off Trinidad is set to end in May 2019.
After that, the rig is scheduled to work for BHP in Mexico until October 2019. Later, the rig will move to the US Gulf of Mexico for more work with BHP, which is scheduled to end in May 2020.
It is worth mentioning that BHP’s Phase 2 of deep-water exploration drilling campaign off Trinidad & Tobago included drilling the Victoria-1 exploration well, which further assessed the commercial potential of the Magellan play in the Southern licence area in Trinidad and Tobago, encountered gas and was plugged and abandoned on the 18th July 2018.
Following the Victoria-1 well, the Bongos-1 exploration well was spud on the 20th July 2018, and experienced mechanical difficulty shortly after spud. The Bongos-2 exploration well was spud on the 22nd July and encountered hydrocarbons.
The Bongos-2 and Bongos-1 wells were plugged and abandoned on the 23rd September 2018, and 26th September, respectively.
Following the Bongos-2 well, the Concepcion-1 well was spud on the 30th September 2018, to further test the Magellan play and is currently drilling ahead.
Source: Offshore Energy Today