Santos announces Wortel-1 test results

Australian oil firm Santos Limited announced on Tuesday that Wortel-1 exploration well in Sampang PSC offshore East Java encountered a gas column of 141 meters over the intervals 1242-1383 meters.

A drill stem test was conducted over the interval of 1340-1365 meters. The well flowed gas at a rate of 18.5 million standard cubic feet per day through a 56/64? choke at wellhead pressure of 1,071 psi. Condensate was produced at a rate of four to five barrels per million cubic feet. Preliminary analysis of the gas samples drawn from the Wortel-1 well indicates that the gas is sweet without presence of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, said the company.

?The result of Wortel-1 are encouraging, however, further appraisal will be required to confirm the potential resources,? Managing director John Ellice-Flint said.

The well is in 42 meters of water, approximately 7 kilometers from the Oyong oil and gas field in the same PSC.

Santos intends to release the Sedco 601 drilling rig following completion of the testing operations. The rig is expected to return to drill the Wortel-2 appraisal well in October 2006.

Santos is the operator of Sampang PSC with 40.5 percent interest, while SPC, Cue Energy and Petrogas Oyong Jatim hold 36 percent, 13.5 percent and 10 percent, respectively. (alex)