Tanager-1, one of the deepest wells ever to be drilled offshore Guyana, is estimated to contain around 65.3 million barrels (MMBBL) of oil as part of a ‘best estimate’ provided in a report compiled by consultants Netherland, Sewell & Associates Inc.
The report, seen by OilNOW, provides three categories for the oil volumes at Tanager – low estimate (17.7 MMBBL), best estimate (65.3 MMBBL) and high estimate (131.0 MMBBL).
The estimated volumes include crude oil only. According to the report, these properties are not expected to produce commercial volumes of gas.
The contingent resources shown in the report were estimated using deterministic methods. Once all contingencies have been successfully addressed, the approximate probability that the quantities of contingent resources actually recovered will equal or exceed the estimated amounts is generally inferred to be 90 percent for the low estimate, 50 percent for the best estimate, and 10 percent for the high estimate. The estimates of contingent resources included in the report were not adjusted for development risk.
The Kaieteur Block and the off-block portion of the Tanager Discovery are covered by a 3-D seismic data set. The seismic data were acquired in 2017 by Polarcus Limited and final processing was completed in 2018. The report states that all seismic interpretation was performed on the prestack depth migrated data.
Tanager-1 is the first well to be drilled on the Kaieteur block. It reached a total depth of 7,633 metres. Evaluation of LWD, wireline logging and sampling data had confirmed 16 metres of net oil pay in high-quality sandstone reservoirs of Maastrichtian age. 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 discovery was deemed to be non-commercial as a standalone development, and the well was plugged and abandoned.
The Tanager-1 results confirm the continuance of a Cretaceous petroleum system and the Liza play fairway onto the Kaieteur Block, down dip from the prolific discoveries on the neighbouring ExxonMobil operated Stabroek Block.
It was announced on August 23 that the date for elective nomination of the second drill target on the Kaieteur block has been extended by seven months, to March 22, 2022. The original Kaieteur second well prospect nomination date was August 22, 2021, with any drilling consequent to this decision to commence within nine months of the nomination date.
Hess bumps up stake in Kaieteur Block as basin prospects remain prolific
The Kaieteur block is adjacent to the Stabroek Block which has delivered 22 substantial oil discoveries since 2015, with reported discovered recoverable resources exceeding 9 billion oil-equivalent barrels to date.
ExxonMobil is operator at the Kaieteur Block and holds 35% interest with Ratio Petroleum Energy Limited holding 25%, Cataleya Energy Limited holding 20% and Hess Corporation 20%.
