Caspian Sunrise has achieved its “long sought after prize” in Kazakhstan, according to its executive chairman.
The Central Asian oil and gas company has a 99% interest in the BNG Contract Area, which is located in the west of Kazakhstan 40 kilometers southeast of Tengiz on the edge of the Mangistau Oblast.
Initial flow rates from the well are approximately 3,500 bopd using a 11 mm choke. The well flowed without interruption for 4 hours and without artificial stimulation before it was shut in pending the arrival on site of additional high pressure testing equipment.
Executive chairman Clive Carver said: “The long sought after prize of a deep well flowing has now been achieved.
“The volumes of high quality oil already recovered under natural pressure from the well indicates the huge potential of the deep horizons at BNG.
“We continue to work to bring deep Wells A6 and 801 into production and look forward to providing further updates on Deep Well A5 in due course.”
The well-head pressure varied from 160 to 300 bar. The pressure build-up dynamics indicate an excellent reservoir quality. The current shut-in pressure is 470 bar (6,887 psi). The high well-head pressure and the good presence of rich gases such as butane and pentane also indicate lighter and more valuable oil compared to our shallow wells.
The interval tested is limestone and extends 85 meters in height between depths 4,335 meters and 4,420 meters.
Elsewhere, Caspian Sunrise’s Well 146, which was spudded on the MJF Structure towards the end of September, has reached a depth of 1,732 meters without incident. The next step is to run and cement 9-5/8 inch casing.
Well 146 is targeting the same Jurassic Callovian sands at a depth of 2,200 meters with a secondary objective in the Cretaceous Valinginian limestone at a depth of 1,900 meters as the already successful MJF wells 141, 142, 143, 144 & 145.
The costs of the well are expected to be approximately $1.5million and Caspian Sunrise expects to reach the total depth of 2,500 meters in November 2017.
A spokesperson added: “The well is situated some 1.2 kilometres from Well 143 and our hope is for a similar outcome.”