The wildcat Nsiko-1 well, in Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 249, which was drilled to a total depth of 13,968 feet and in 5,674 feet of water, discovered a substantial amount of net hydrocarbon pay in multiple zones. One zone was tested in the well and flowed at 6,500 barrels of high quality crude per day under restricted flow conditions.
The well was abandoned upon completion of testing operations. Appraisal drilling on the Nsiko discovery is planned for the first half of 2004.
In addition, the Aparo 3 appraisal well confirmed the extension of the Aparo oil field onto OPL 249. The well, drilled in 4,270 feet of water to a total depth of 12,000 feet, encountered a substantial amount of net oil sand.
The results from the Aparo-3 well indicate that the OPL 249 Aparo, OPL 213 Aparo, and Oil Mining Lease (OML) 118 Bonga SW discoveries share a common structure and thus should lead to a joint oil development by the OPL 249, OPL 213 and OML 118 partners.
"This latest exploration success is very exciting, especially as it follows so closely on the recent successful Usan appraisal well," said George Kirkland, president of ChevronTexaco Overseas Petroleum.
"Nigeria deep water is an integral part of ChevronTexaco's growth strategy for West Africa and confirmation of this latest drilling success in OPL 249 further enhances our already very strong position there."
