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88 Energy: petrophysical reading confirms pay in Torok, Seabee
Kay Cashman Petroleum News
ASX-listed explorer 88 Energy said April 20 that third party “preliminary petrophysical interpretation” of the wireline logs from the Charlie 1 well “indicates hydrocarbon pay” in the Torok, Seabee and Kuparuk formations. The well was drilled, but not flow-tested, this past winter on Alaska’s North Slope by 88 Energy subsidiary Accumulate Energy Alaska.
88 Energy claimed more than 280 feet of net pay was interpreted over the three formations, which “compares favourably to pre-drill expectations; however, confirmation of rock properties and saturations by lab work is required.”
That work is underway and, once completed, “will result in a revised prospective resource,” the company said.
Of “particular interest is the pay interpreted over the Lima prospects in the Seabee formation, despite both being intersected in a sub optimal location,” 88 Energy said.
The details of the preliminary petrophysical interpretation released by the company are as follows:
* Upper Lima prospect in the Seabee, 369 gross feet, 49 net feet, average porosity 11.5%, average water 77%. 88 Energy comment: Not intersected optimally.
* Lower Lima prospect in the Seabee, 326 gross feet, 97 net feet, porosity 11.4%, average water 66%. 88 Energy comment: Not intersected optimally, best shows in both Charlie 1 and Malguk 1 with live oil observed at surface. Relatively good permeability indicated on CMR and confirmed by XPT. High resistivity in thin bedded sands.
* Upper Stellar prospect in the Torok, 32.8 gross feet, 43 net feet, porosity 11.4%, average water 76%. 88 Energy comment: Not intersected optimally.
* Middle Stellar prospect in the Torok, 232 gross feet, 129 net feet, porosity 11.4%, average water 69%. 88 Energy comment: Flowed gas condensate into sample chambers on downhole ORA tool.
* Lower Stellar prospect in the Torok, 95 gross feet, 55 net feet, porosity 11.1%, average water 55%. 88 Energy comment: Clean sand indicated near base. Flowed gas condensate into sample chambers on downhole ORA tool.
* Kuparuk prospect in the Kuparuk formation, 117 gross feet, 61 net feet, porosity 13.8%, average water 70%. 88 Energy comment: Not mapped. Reasonable permeability indicated on CMR. Likely wet gas.
Gas condensate testing As previously announced, gas condensate was flowed from the middle and lower Stellar targets in the Torok formation using a downhole sampling tool. The samples collected are undergoing laboratory test work, 88 Energy said. (The company previously said its technical team determined the Torok could hold a potential volume of up to 192 million barrels of prospective oil resources net to the company.)
The initial test results, including gas to oil ratio, are expected in two to three weeks. More advanced testing on geochemical markers and hydrocarbon isotopes will take an additional four to six weeks, per 88 Energy.
“Investigation is also underway in regard to several theories regarding remaining potential for oil in the Torok, either as part of an oil rim or potentially displaced updip by a secondary hydrocarbon charge resultant from the unique burial history across the Project Icewine acreage,” 88 Energy said in its April 20 update.
“Additionally, sidewall cores are now undergoing analysis to determine hydrocarbon and water saturations across the various targets, including the HRZ shale, as well as determination of total and effective porosity and permeability. The first of these results will be known in 2-3 weeks, with final reports expected 3-4 weeks later,” the company said.
Demobilization complete The Charlie 1 appraisal well in the company’s central North Slope Icewine project reached a total depth of 11,112 feet in the Kuparuk formation on March 30.
Demobilization of the Nordic Calista Rig 3 and all equipment is complete, 88 Energy said. (The rig was moved back to Deadhorse on April 14 and 15.)
“Despite the surprise in relation to the phase of hydrocarbons discovered in the Torok formation at this location, the Charlie 1 well has yielded encouraging results, particularly in the Seabee,” Dave Wall, managing director of 88 Energy, was quoted as saying in the update.
“The Seabee targets are extensive and have had excellent oil shows, including live oil observed at the surface. … The Torok, Seabee and HRZ all remain prospective targets at Project Icewine, albeit not without risk,” he said.
- KAY CASHMAN
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