Busy times ahead for offshore gas field as activities in Black Sea unfold

Canada’s oil and gas player Trillion Energy has set the stage to undertake a two-month work program on a natural gas field in the Black Sea off the coast of Türkiye.

The company has confirmed the start of operations related to its program at the SASB natural gas field, which will occur over two months. These activities, being conducted in several phases, cover seven or eight wells at the gas field, including all six wells drilled last year alongside a few older wells that historically experienced water loading issues.

At the start of the year, Trillion disclosed its intention to deploy artificial lift solutions at the field to monetize the reserves for sale, after the firm’s six-well 2022-2023 development drilling program in all six wells led to large volumes of gas reserves tied into the pipeline for production.

The Canadian player has ordered approximately 16,500 meters of velocity strings, new well heads, and other tangibles for its planned activities over the next two months. These items are being received at the shore base proximate to the Akcakoca port.

Furthermore, the firm claims that order delivery has been ongoing over the last month and is expected to go on as the work program continues. To complete the planned campaign at SASB, service contractors have been engaged for perforations, well tractors, tubing running services and marine vessels required to convey the equipment 14 kilometers offshore.

According to Trillion, 49 meters of gas pay in four wells will be perforated in mid-June 2024, followed by initial velocity string installation in the AKK-3 well. The firm highlights that the key focus of this work program, gas velocity strings which restrict the amount of water entering tubing to prevent water loading, are expected to improve well performance for long-term stabilized production.

The activities in June, estimated to require 20 days, will take place on the Akcakoca platform including Guluc-2, South Akcakoca-2, West Akcakoca-1, and Akcakoca-3 wells. Trillion’s second set of operations is due to begin in July, entailing the installation of gas velocity strings in six or more wells on the Akcakoca platform and two tripods.

The pump installation is anticipated in one or more older wells, which were not part of the firm’s 2022-2023 drilling program on an as-needed basis. Trillion Energy is a 49% owner of the SASB natural gas field and holds a 19.6%, except three wells with 9.8%, interest in the Cendere oil field. The company also has a farm-in to earn 50% interest in three oil exploration blocks in S.E. Türkiye. 

The firm outlined its intention to add three sidetrack wells to the development program for the SASB natural gas field last year, increasing the total number of wells from 17 to 20. In line with this, the Canadian player intends to drill five new sidetracked production wells from existing platforms at the SASB gas field in 2024 to raise the total number of producing wells to 11.