Block M Well Shows ‘Better Than Expected' Sand Quality

Kuala Belait - Markisa -1 exploration well in Block M, the largest onshore project in Brunei Darussalam, has started to yield optimistic results.

According to Marketwire, drilling, which began on September 26 this year, it has reached an intermediate depth of 987 metres where engineers have discovered "better than expected" sand quality in the lower langsat upper sand section, whilst preliminary interpretation of wireline, pressure as well as sampling data suggest that some "good quality reservoir" has been intersected.

Data collected on two of the shallower objectives that have already been logged also suggest the presence of low saturation hydrocarbons with sands appearing to be "water wet".

The chief executive of Tap, Peter Stickland, said that the combination of both the condition of the reservoir quality and the presence of low saturation hydrocarbons indicates "further opportunities" for the said objectives.

"These shallow Markisa-1 results will now be incorporated into our geologic of the Belait region to better define future drilling opportunities," he said and is looking forward to deeper drilling, which will commence within the next four to five days.

The Markisa-1 exploratory well that has been programmed to reach a well depth of 1,335 metres, is the second of a minimum of three wells to be drilled in Block M during Phase 1 exploration period that will end in August 2011.

It will also be used to evaluate several secondary targets within the Miocene Belait Formation and is expected to intersect the main Belait thrust fault.

The partners for Block M include operator Tap Energy (Borneo) with 39 per cent, Kulczky Oil Ventures with 36 per cent, China Sino Oil Company with 21 per cent and Jana Corporation with four per cent.

Kulczyk Oil also owns an interest in Block L, the other onshore exploration block in Brunei, through Kulczyk Oil Brunei Limited, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Kulczyk Oil, which has a 40 per cent interest in Block L and in each of the Lukut-1 and Lempuyang-1 wells.

The first well, Lukut-1, was drilled on Brunei Block L and suspended in mid-June pending testing by a service rig. A second Block L well, Lempuyang-1, commenced drilling operations on July 15 and is currently logging. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin