Luiperd well offshore South Africa delivers strong flow rates
Africa Energy has issued drill-stem test results for the recent ultra-deep-water Luiperd-1X discovery on block 11B/12B offshore South Africa, operated by Total.
According to Jan Maier, the company’s vp Exploration, the well, drilled by the semi-submersible Deepsea Stavanger in 1,800 metres (5,905 feet) of water, intersected 85 metres (279 feet) gross sands of which 73 metres (239 feet) was net good-quality pay in the main target interval, also thicker than prognosed.
The DST started after the well had reached TD of around 3,400 metres (11,155 feet) on the 12th October. Luiperd-1X well was opened to flow on the 1st November and following tests at different choke settings, attained a maximum constrained flow-rate through a 58/64-inch choke of 33 MMcf/d of natural gas and 4,320 b/d of condensate (9,820 boe/d in total).
Surface equipment constraints prevented the choke configuration from being increased: the absolute open flow potential of the well is likely to be significantly higher than the restricted test rates.
Overall, the results demonstrate a high condensate yield and good reservoir connectivity, Mr Maier added, supporting the partners’ decision to progress development studies and to engage the South African authorities on commercialisation.
Block 11B/12B is in the Outeniqua basin, 175 km (109 miles) off the southern coast of South Africa. Luiperd is the second discovery in the Paddavissie Fairway in the south-west corner of the block.
The five originally identified submarine fan prospects across the fairway all have direct hydrocarbon indicators recorded on both 2D and 3D seismic data and intersected in the wells, which should de-risk future exploration.
Source: Offshore Magazine