Tanager-1, drilled offshore Guyana on the Kaieteur Block, remains one of the deepest wells executed in the country’s waters, reaching a total depth of 7,633 metres. The well was completed as ExxonMobil’s first exploration attempt at the block.
The well encountered hydrocarbons. Data from logging-while-drilling, wireline logging and sampling confirmed 16 metres of net oil pay in Maastrichtian-age sandstone reservoirs.
A report compiled by Netherland, Sewell & Associates Inc., seen by OilNOW, estimated the discovery to contain 65.3 million barrels of oil in the best case. The report outlined a low estimate of 17.7 million barrels and a high estimate of 131.0 million barrels. The volumes reflect crude oil only.
Netherland, Sewell & Associates Inc. noted that “Preliminary evaluation of the fluid samples from the Maastrichtian reservoir indicated heavier oil than is reported from the Liza Phase I producing field crude assays.”
The report stated that the contingent resources were estimated using deterministic methods and were not adjusted for development risk. It outlined a 90% probability for the low estimate, 50% for the best estimate and 10% for the high estimate.
Kaieteur and Canje Blocks offer snapshot of offshore exploration beyond Stabroek Block | OilNOW
Seismic data covering the Kaieteur Block, including the off-block portion of the discovery, was acquired in 2017 by Polarcus Limited. Final processing was completed in 2018 using prestack depth-migrated data.
The discovery was deemed non-commercial as a standalone development. The well was subsequently plugged and abandoned.
Results confirmed the extension of a Cretaceous petroleum system and the Liza play fairway into the Kaieteur Block, down dip from discoveries in the neighbouring Stabroek Block.ExxonMobil was the operator of the Kaieteur Block holding 35% interest, with then co-venturers Ratio Petroleum Energy Limited 25%, Cataleya Energy Limited 20% and Hess Corporation 20%. In 2023, ExxonMobil and Hess exited the asset.
