Perth based Carnarvon Petroleum and project operator Quadrant Energy, advised that drilling of the well Phoenix South-3 commenced. Since arriving on site, the Transocean semi-submersible GSF Development Driller I, successfully completed the ‘ready to operate’ process and has finished drilling the 42” hole in preparation to run surface casing. The 42” surface hole was drilled to around 240 metres MD in preparation for setting the 36” surface conductor. This conductor is slightly deeper than Phoenix South-2 to accommodate heavier casing strings as allowed for in this well’s drill program. Following the setting of this conductor, the rig will drill the 26” hole, and set and cement the 20” casing. These operations are planned to take around 10 days to complete.
The primary objective for the Phoenix South-3 well is to evaluate the gas and condensate potential of the Caley Member within a large, faulted anti-clinal closure that was partially penetrated with the Phoenix South-2 well. Phoenix South-2 encountered gas and condensate in the Caley Member but was unable to drill through and evaluate the formation. The Phoenix South-3 well has been optimally designed to penetrate and evaluate the hydrocarbon bearing formations of the Caley Member. Phoenix South-3 is located around 560 metres North-North East of the Phoenix South-2 well. The well will target a closure that is estimated by Carnarvon to contain a gross mean recoverable prospective resource of 489 Bscf of gas and 57 million barrels of associated condensate (being 143 million barrels of oil equivalent. The well is also expected to encounter sandstones within the Hove Member that may be hydrocarbon bearing.
Drilling of the Phoenix South-3 well is estimated to take around 90 days to reach the target depth of approximately 5,500 m MD. The Operator’s plans encompass staged drilling just above and through the Caley reservoir section. The result is that drilling through the Caley reservoir section will progress slower than through the other sections of the well bore. (Source: Carnarvon Petroleum – Image: Quadrant Energy)