Forest Oil successfully tests South Africa well

Petroleum News Alaska Staff

Forest Oil Corp. of Denver said June 4 that it has completed the fourth and final well in its 2001 drilling program at the Ibhubesi field offshore South Africa. Three zones were tested in the A-Y1 well and in aggregate the zones tested at 71.4 million cubic feet a day of natural gas and 1,376 barrels per day of condensate or approximately 80 million cubic feet per day equivalent on a 80/64 inch choke.

Forest said three of the four wells successfully tested gas production with a combined test rate of 177 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and 1,900 barrels per day of condensate or approximately 190 million cubic feet per day equivalent.

Ten anomalies were targeted in the 2001 drilling program based on 2000 3-D seismic program and the company said all 10 proved to be high-quality reservoir sandstones of which eight were gas bearing.

Preliminary development and pipeline feasibility studies have been completed. Forest said gas deliveries could occur as early as 2004.

Forest Oil, the operator, holds a 70 percent working interest along with its two partners, The Anschutz Overseas Corp. and Mvelaphanda Holdings.