Block 10 ESDA Partners Target 70,000 B/D Production By 2007
The partners in Yemen’s Block 10 East Shabwa Development Area (ESDA) are targeting production of 70,000 b/d by 2007, according to Roger Cagle, Deputy Chief Executive and CFO of SOCO International which holds a 16.785% working interest in the development through its subsidiary Comeco. Production today stands at 38,000 b/d, Mr Cagle told MEES. A temporary 10,000 b/d self-contained production facility is being added to the current facility to increase the field’s overall output capacity as other work on debottlenecking and expanding permanent capacity continues. The temporary capacity upgrade is expected to be available in early March. France’s Total is the operator for the ESDA. Occidental and Kufpec are also partners.
Atuf, Kharir Success
Meanwhile, four new wells are being added to the block’s production, according to a statement from SOCO. A three-well production enhancement drilling program on the Atuf Field has concluded: all three have been completed as producers and are being connected to the main producing facilities. On the Kharir Field, the KHA-1-07.G1 sidetrack well, a sidetrack of KHA-401, encountered good shows and will be completed as a producer. Two rigs are drilling injection and production wells on the Kharir field and this activity is expected to continue throughout 2006, said SOCO.
Jathma Exploration
Following the success of the Jathma-1 exploration well (1,900 b/d – MEES, 2/9 January), the second exploration well in the Jathma area, spudded on 8 December 2005, failed to produce oil despite a significant oil column. This was due to poor fracture development at this location, said SOCO. An evaluation of the results from the well is being conducted to aid a potential 3D seismic program in the area. The third and last exploration well of the program, JAT-03, was spudded on 13 January 2006 on the western side of the block. The well is taking longer than expected due to upper hole mechanical difficulties.
