The Perth-based company yesterday also said logging data has indicated possible oil pay at several levels in all wells.
“In order to efficiently evaluate the oil potential in these wells, production testing on each well will start on the deepest potential oil reservoir first and progressively move up the well to test the shallower zones,” Carnarvon said.
The company said testing of the “G” sandstone, the first of four potential oil zones encountered at exploration well POE-6, has been finished.
Initial rates of flush production greater than 200 barrels of oil per day were recorded before stabilising at around 45bopd.
Prior to the drilling of POE-6, there were no proven reserves assigned to the POE-6 fault compartment and this new oil flow will add “significantly” to overall reserves base, it said.
Testing at POE-2 was also done in the “G” sandstone, one of two zones interpreted as hydrocarbon bearing on the basis of open-hole logs. Carnarvon said production is now stable at 40bopd and is the first “G” sandstone production in the main Wichian Buri field.
Drilling, logging and casing of the POE-5 development well, the sixth of the now eight-well Phase 1 program, has also been completed.
The company said interpretation of open-hole logs indicated net hydrocarbon pay of 15m in the “F” sandstone and 8m in the “H” sandstone.
“This is the best log result from the ‘H’ sandstone to date from the Phase 1 drilling program, however, as with POE-3, the hydrocarbon potential of the ‘G’ sandstone is inconclusive on logs and production from the ‘H’ sand at POE-3 has positive implications for the ‘G’ sandstone in POE-5 as well as POE-3,” Carnarvon said.
It said testing is expected to begin there shortly.
Meanwhile, chief executive Ted Jacobson said exploration well POE-9 has been added to the Phase 1 program.
“We are about to drill two high impact exploration wells at POE-7 and POE-9,” he said.
“These two wells are both significantly updip of oil intersections encountered in previously drilled wells, and with good reservoir potential.
“The drilling of these wells will be an exciting finish to an already exciting program.”
Carnarvon has a 40% interest in the permit, while operator Pan Orient owns the remaining stake.
