Carnarvon: Phoenix South-1 Faces Difficulties

Carnarvon Petroleum Limited  reports that a new sidetrack wellbore section of the Phoenix South-1 well is required to be drilled below the 13 3/8” casing depth, due to the 9 5/8” casing hanger seal assembly running tool (CHSART), becoming stuck and preventing forward drilling progress of the current wellbore.

As reported on 13 June 2014, the Phoenix South-1 well had drilled to 3,706 m depth and was in the process of setting the 9 5/8” diameter casing to support the hole, as per standard industry practice. After setting and cementing the casing in place, the casing tool was unable to be retrieved from the wellhead.

Apache Energy (Operator) notified Carnarvon that despite several unsuccessful attempts to retrieve the casing tool, it remained stuck, and forward progress in the current wellbore was not possible.

The Operator has advised Carnarvon that it intends to cut and retrieve the casing from a point just below the 13 3/8” casing point to retrieve the stuck casing running tool. A new sidetrack wellbore will be drilled from this point down to the same depth (approximately 3,700 m) as the initial hole and the 9 5/8” cement casing will be set, as per industry practice.

The above mentioned operations are outside the scope of the original drilling plan, and the Operator estimates that this procedure could add approximately 20 days to the expected drill schedule.

Press Release, June 23, 2014