The data being gathered from the results of drilling, wireline logging, pressure testing and sampling of reservoir fluid at the Carapa-1 exploration well offshore Guyana will have positive implications for both the Kanuku and Orinduik blocks, according to UK-based Tullow Oil.
“Carapa is not commercial in itself but it is an important technical discovery,” George Cazenove, Head of Communications at Tullow Oil told OilNOW on Thursday, following the company’s announcement of the well results.
The company said Carapa-1, drilled on the Kanuku licence offshore Guyana, encountered approximately four metres of net oil pay based on preliminary interpretation, and has extended the prolific Cretaceous oil play into the Group’s Guyana acreage.
The results suggest the extension of the Cretaceous oil play from the ExxonMobil-operated Stabroek licence southwards into the Kanuku licence. The US oil major has to date found more than 6 billion barrels of oil equivalent at Stabroek.
Tullow Oil said while net pay is lower than pre-drill forecasts, the 27-degree API oil supports the significant potential of the Cretaceous play on both the Kanuku, and adjacent Orinduik licences, where the company has made two previous discoveries at the Joe and Jethro prospects.
“Joe and Jethro continue to be evaluated but, as previously disclosed, the oil is heavy and has high levels of sulphur which has to be taken into account when deciding if they are commercial,” Cazenove said.
Tullow Oil now plans to integrate the results of the three exploration wells drilled in these adjacent licences into its Guyana and Suriname geological and geophysical models before deciding the future work programme.
“So, three oil discoveries but each with their challenges…. we’ll now look at the data from the wells, integrate that with seismic data and then decide, with our partners, where to drill next,” Cazenove stated.
Repsol Exploración Guyana, S.A. is the operator of the Kanuku block with a 37.5% stake. Tullow Guyana B.V. also holds a 37.5% stake with Total E&P Guyana B.V. holding the remaining 25%.
