Van Gogh well offshore Australia delivers record rate of oil

First oil has flowed from Santos’ Van Gogh Phase 2 infill development in the Exmouth basin offshore Western Australia.

The first of three new production wells, drilled by the semi-submersible Valaris MS-1, produced at a peak rate of 23,200 b/d.

Santos managing director and CEO Kevin Gallagher said: “We have seen an excellent reservoir outcome from this first well with a larger oil column than expected and a total horizontal section of 5,430 metres [17,815 feet], which is 490 metres [1,607 feet] more than originally planned.

“This is also the highest peak production seen from a single well in the Van Gogh field and exceeded our pre-drill expectations.”

Drilling is now under way on the second horizontal, dual-lateral production well now under way. This and the third well should come onstream before year-end.

Van Gogh in the WA-35-L permit is one of three subsea oil tiebacks to the FPSO Ningaloo Vision. The others are the nearby Coniston and Novara fields which Santos also operates.

INPEX is the sole partner in the developments.

Source: Offshore Magazine