Targeting an undrilled section of the reservoir, Chinguetti C-18 will be the first of several infill wells planned for Woodside-operated field, offshore Mauritania.
Further infill drilling is expected to wait until after the 4D seismic dataset is interpreted.
Woodside decided to create the 4D dataset, by analyzing existing and new 3D data to understand fluid flows better and to optimize the location of future wells, in an attempt to offset the unpredicted production decline at the field.
The $US700 million ($A930 million) Chinguetti field originally started pumping more than 70,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) when it first came onstream in late February. Output then declined steadily before stabilising around 31,000 bopd in the September quarter.
Atwood Hunter Rig
Five months ago, the Atwood Hunter rig started what has proved to be an unsuccessful three-well exploration program in Mauritania.
The first well, Colin-1, was plugged and abandoned by operator Woodside, after failing to encounter hydrocarbons in Block 3.
The rig then moved on to the Dana Petroleum-operated Flamant wildcat in Block 8, where drilling was stalled due to storms and mechanical difficulties, and the well was found to be a duster.
Then followed the Aigrette-1 well, also operated by Dana, which encountered a 20m sub-commercial oil column several weeks ago.
The Chinguetti joint venture comprises Woodside (47.38448%), Hardman (19.008%), Société Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures (12%), BG (10.2344%), Premier group companies (8.12328%), Roc Oil (3.24984%).
