Lightning strikes Hummer field, slows down drilling operations

Following a lightning strike, Castex Energy has experienced issues, which slowed down its drilling operations at the Hummer gas/oil field in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

According to a Monday statement by Petsec Energy, Castex’s partner in the project, on November 7, 2018, the Main Pass Block 273 B-2 well was drilling ahead at approximately 10,342 feet when the Main Pass 270 “B” production platform and Ensco 68 drilling rig were struck by lightning during a serious thunderstorm.

As a result, it was necessary for the operator to stop drilling while repairs were being made to the rigs electrical equipment, and when re-entering the hole the well was unintentionally side-tracked. The decision was made to plug back to 9,100 feet and drill a bypass around that section of the hole. Well operations are back to drilling and the well is drilling ahead at 9,653 feet.

The B-2 appraisal/development well is being drilled from the Main Pass Block 270 “B” production platform, to a bottom hole location approximately 6,000 feet to the East of the B-1 discovery well. This is the first of potentially 3 to 8 appraisal/development wells required to develop the field.

The well is designed to test, in a structurally advantageous position, six oil and gas reservoirs, these being the five oil and gas reservoirs that were intersected in the B-1 well and a deeper horizon not tested by the B-1 well, but productive in the area.

The primary objectives of the B-2 well are two sand reservoirs with proven oil and gas reserves discovered in the B-1 well (Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, independent reserve engineers), one of which is categorized as Proved Developed Producing (PDP), the other Proved Undeveloped (PUD). These reservoirs are also productive in similar nearby fields (Main Pass 280/283 Field Complex).

Up to 60 more days to TD

The B-2 well is planned to be drilled to a measured depth (MD) of 18,559 feet with a true vertical depth (TVD) of 16,624 feet. The well is being drilled utilizing the Ensco 68 jack-up drilling rig and is expected to take a further 50 to 60 days to reach total depth.

Contingent on the results of the well the production facilities will be expanded, and the well will be completed for production with production estimated to begin in February 2018.

The estimated net cost to Petsec to drill the well has been revised and is approximately $3.75 million, plus $1.2 million to $1.5 million for completion and additional production facilities.

It is worth reminding that Castex initially planned to start drilling the B-2 well in mid-July 2018 but later postponed operations to mid-August. According to previous estimates, the total depth was expected to be reached in 80 days and production from the well was estimated to begin in mid-December 2018.