13 December 2005
MUSCAT -- Petrogas LLC has notched up significant successes in maintaining output from its Sahmah field in Block-7 in the Rub al Khali desert. It follows the successful use of artificial lift technology and an effective work over campaign, the company's Chief Operating Officer Salim al Busaidy said. Block 7 has produced since 1980, initially from the Sahmah field, and from the Ramlat field as from 1986. Peak production from the Block was 15,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) in 1992. Since then the production declined and by 1999, when Petrogas took over, some 2400 bopd were produced.
Over the last 6 years, Petrogas managed to limit the decline and maintained production between 1900 and 2500 bopd. On November 16, Petrogas added Rija as a new, albeit old, producing field in Block 7. Today, production from the Abu Butabul concession is 2200 bopd. In addition to adding Rija production, this level of production was achieved as a result of artificial lift optimisation and a successful work over campaign in the Sahmah field, Al Busaidy stated. Well Rija-1 is located some 45 km south of the Sahmah field located in the Rub Al Khali desert.
It was drilled in 1980 by the previous operator of Block-7 and logged 7.5 m of net oil pay in the Lower Gharif at 3000m of depth. An open hole test was carried out and oil, drilling fluid and formation water were recovered. This was deemed uneconomic at the time, but the operator had the foresight of running casing and suspending the well. In August of this year, Petrogas LLC identified the opportunity of completing and test Rija-1. It was technically assessed and economically justified by the end of September.
The Ministry of Oil and Gas supported including this activity in the 2005 work programme and budget in October. The well was completed in October 2005 and opened up on November 16, 2005. It is producing at the rate of 2200 bopd through an early production facility realised entirely in-house. From the onset of the test, the production was flown to a tank and trucked to the Sahmah field production station. The pay out time for this activity will be less than 30 days.
"It is too early to speculate on firm reserve bookings, but in the light of the test results and nearby field analogy, we are targeting 0.5 up to a maximum of 2 million barrels of reserves expectation. This is small but highly valuable," the Chief Operating Officer remarked. "The amazing pace from identification to implementation for this project reflects the focus of Petrogas LLC on delivering value to the concession shareholders.
Petrogas LLC demonstrates again its ability to create value from small fields through inspired professional work and tight cost control while achieving an Omanisation percentage in excess of 77 per cent," Al Busaidy added. The COO thanked the Ministry of Oil and Gas for its support to Petrogas since it took over the operations in Block-7 in 1999.
MUSCAT -- Petrogas LLC has notched up significant successes in maintaining output from its Sahmah field in Block-7 in the Rub al Khali desert. It follows the successful use of artificial lift technology and an effective work over campaign, the company's Chief Operating Officer Salim al Busaidy said. Block 7 has produced since 1980, initially from the Sahmah field, and from the Ramlat field as from 1986. Peak production from the Block was 15,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) in 1992. Since then the production declined and by 1999, when Petrogas took over, some 2400 bopd were produced.
Over the last 6 years, Petrogas managed to limit the decline and maintained production between 1900 and 2500 bopd. On November 16, Petrogas added Rija as a new, albeit old, producing field in Block 7. Today, production from the Abu Butabul concession is 2200 bopd. In addition to adding Rija production, this level of production was achieved as a result of artificial lift optimisation and a successful work over campaign in the Sahmah field, Al Busaidy stated. Well Rija-1 is located some 45 km south of the Sahmah field located in the Rub Al Khali desert.
It was drilled in 1980 by the previous operator of Block-7 and logged 7.5 m of net oil pay in the Lower Gharif at 3000m of depth. An open hole test was carried out and oil, drilling fluid and formation water were recovered. This was deemed uneconomic at the time, but the operator had the foresight of running casing and suspending the well. In August of this year, Petrogas LLC identified the opportunity of completing and test Rija-1. It was technically assessed and economically justified by the end of September.
The Ministry of Oil and Gas supported including this activity in the 2005 work programme and budget in October. The well was completed in October 2005 and opened up on November 16, 2005. It is producing at the rate of 2200 bopd through an early production facility realised entirely in-house. From the onset of the test, the production was flown to a tank and trucked to the Sahmah field production station. The pay out time for this activity will be less than 30 days.
"It is too early to speculate on firm reserve bookings, but in the light of the test results and nearby field analogy, we are targeting 0.5 up to a maximum of 2 million barrels of reserves expectation. This is small but highly valuable," the Chief Operating Officer remarked. "The amazing pace from identification to implementation for this project reflects the focus of Petrogas LLC on delivering value to the concession shareholders.
Petrogas LLC demonstrates again its ability to create value from small fields through inspired professional work and tight cost control while achieving an Omanisation percentage in excess of 77 per cent," Al Busaidy added. The COO thanked the Ministry of Oil and Gas for its support to Petrogas since it took over the operations in Block-7 in 1999.
By A Staff Reporter
© Oman Daily Observer 2005
