Elsewhere in the field, the company says further analysis has determined its earlier POE-2 development well has discovered an additional pay zone, while drilling has started at the POE-6 exploration well.
At POE-8, Carnarvon said it decided to deepen the well based on strong oil and gas shows encountered while drilling below a depth of 1100m. Now at total depth, the well has been suspended for production testing using the onsite smaller workover rig.
Logging indicates the well has intersected 2m of pay in the F sand, 3m in the G sand and 4m in deeper sand at a depth of 1250m. Neither the G sand nor the deeper sand have been flow tested on the concession to date.
Log interpretation also suggests that hydrocarbons may be present in shallower zones at 615m, 635m, 660m and 785m and in a deeper hydrocarbon zone within a fractured volcanic sill at 1155m. Carnarvon said testing would be required to determine the hydrocarbon potential of these additional zones.
Describing the results as “encouraging”, Carnarvon noted that the shallower pay zone at a depth of 615m had similar log results to those seen in POE-2 and other adjacent wells.
“This interval has previously not been tested and successful flow testing at this level could add significantly to the reserves at the greater Wichian Buri field,” the company said.
“Following the encouraging results from the log analysis of POE-8 and POE-2, Carnarvon will be undertaking a further analysis of all previous wells drilled at the Wichian Buri oil field with a view to identifying hydrocarbon zones overlooked by the previous joint ventures.”
Meanwhile, Carnarvon said further logging data analysis of its first well, POE-2, indicates the well has encountered another potential 7m hydrocarbon pay in the shallower section at a depth of 575m. This zone has never been flow tested before and will require testing to determine the hydrocarbon potential.
Currently the company is drilling the POE-6 exploration well, which spudded on Monday. The well is located 500m north and 35m structurally updip from WB-3, a well drilled in the late 1980s that flowed oil to surface from a thin oil column over water.
POE-6 will test a large area of possible reserves in a separate fault block west of the main Wichian Buri field. Carnarvon said success at this well could add significant additional reserves to the greater Wichian Buri field.
The company is also planning to return the drilling rig to the second well, POE-1, to remove the drill pipe in the hole and complete drilling to total depth.
Logs will then be run to evaluate potential oil zones including both the F and G sandstone levels.
Carnarvon added that following the encouraging results from POE-8 and POE-2, the company will be undertaking a further analysis of all previous wells drilled at the Wichian Buri oil field with a view to identifying hydrocarbon zones overlooked by the previous JVs.
