Reliance encounters â€کmud loss' at D6 appraisal well
Reliance has managed to control a â€کmud loss’ problem that threatened to prolong drilling of an appraisal well at its D6 gasfield.
PETROWATCH learns Transocean operated drillship Deepwater Expedition experienced â€کmud loss’ at close to 6000 metres water depth while drilling well BA-2 at D6, spud on April 1 this year, and which Reliance wants to drill to TD of 7100 metres. “The well is yet to stabilise,†reports an industry source.
“I think Reliance has fractured the formation at the well and is trying to overcome the problem.†By now, say industry sources, Reliance should have moved Expedition to another well from BA-2.
“Expedition will move to another well after reaching TD of 7100,†we hear. After reaching TD, Reliance has no plan to â€کcomplete’ well BA-2.
“Right now Reliance is only testing wells and will â€کcomplete’ them closer to production,†we hear. Expedition is expected to spend another 15 days on location at well BA-2.
Meanwhile, another Transocean rig on hire to Reliance, Deepwater Frontier, has completed well MA-6H at the MA oilfield that lies within D6. Spud on May 22, well MA-6H was drilled to TD of between 6200 to 6250 metres and takes the number of producing wells at MA to four.
“Reliance has â€کcompleted’ the well but is yet to connect it,†said a source. “It should be done soon.
†Well MA-6H is expected to produce an additional 7000 to 8000 b/d at D6. Frontier has since moved to the main D6 gasfield to drill development well A-1 to TD of 2198 metres.
“Reliance will complete this well and keep it ready for production,†says a source. Once ready, gas production from well A-1 should range from 30m to 40m cf/d.
This report also learns Discoverer 534, a third Transocean drillship with Reliance, has begun appraisal of the CY-III-D5-A1 discovery at NELP-III deepwater block CY-DWN-2001/2, which it announced on July 17 last year. Discoverer sailed from Reliance’s NEC-25 block to the Cauvery block around July 10 and spud well CY-III-D5-A2 on July 22.
TD should be reached in 45 days.