Baraka said independent consultants have confirmed the selected land rig ZJ50LDB from drilling operator, GWDC (Great Wall Drilling Company), is suitable to drill the Heron-1 exploration well, which has a planned total depth of 3800m.
Following Heron-1, operator CNPCIM will use the same rig to drill an exploration well in neighbouring coastal Block 12, in which Baraka does not have an interest.
The Perth-based company said it would benefit from the ongoing rig operations by sharing all associated costs including mobilisation, de-mobilisation and other well services.
Currently, the rig with casing and tubing is being mobilised for shipment to Mauritania – on schedule to spud Heron-1 in the third quarter, according to Baraka.
The well has primary targets in the Cenomanian sands and a secondary target in the Albian-Aptian sand and limestone interval.
An independent report confirms an undiscovered prospective OIIP (oil initially in place) of 465 million barrels for both the Cenomanian and Albian-Aptian targets, with a prospective resource of about 132 million bbl, of which Baraka’s share would be 35%.
A shallow gas target has also been identified. This potentially sizeable low-pressure gas prospective resource at a depth of roughly 1000m will be evaluated, following drilling results, for development to service local and regional power demand, according to Baraka.
Meanwhile, the environmental impact study on the proposed work program for Block 20 is being updated to include the selection of an access road to the well location.
A third set of meetings between the Baraka and CNPCIM teams will be held next week in Beijing to confirm all details of the drilling program and to consider development scenarios.
CNPCIM acquired a 65% operating interest in the Baraka-held block by funding 100% of exploration costs up to $11.43 million. Baraka retains a 35% interest in the block.
CNPCIM is a subsidiary of CNPC International, the overseas ventures arm of China’s largest oil and gas company China National Petroleum Company.
