Nigeria: Afren Confirms High Quality Oil at Okoro East Discovery

Afren plc  announces that testing has been completed at the Okoro East oil discovery, offshore south east Nigeria, and that results confirm a high quality 38° to 40 API oil, in excellent reservoir sands.

Based on the test data the Company expects future horizontal production wells at Okoro East will be capable of yielding between 4,500 to 7,000 bopd per well. The Company will drill two production wells using existing facilities in H2 2012 and up to 8 production wells, under a full field development scenario.

Following the Okoro East exploration well discovery announced on 17th January 2012, three drill stem tests (DSTs) have been undertaken and completed. The purpose of the tests was to obtain fluid samples and pressure data in order to establish reservoir connectivity, heterogeneity and quantify permeability and porosity. The tests have confirmed a high quality 38° to 40°API oil, multi Darcy permeabilities and average porosity of between 30% to 35%, in the subject reservoirs. The pressure data also obtained has helped with the Company’s structural understanding of the field and supports the pre drill volumetric estimates (Pmean STOIIP of 157 mmbbls).

Based on the test data, the Company expects future horizontal production wells at Okoro East will be capable of yielding rates of between 4,500 bopd to 7,000 bopd per well. The Company intends to drill up to two production wells in H2 2012 using the free well head slots on the existing Okoro platform, which will be tied back to the Armada Perkasa Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel. This production information will allow Amni and Afren to finalise development options, with up to 8 possible production wells under a full field development.

Osman Shahenshah, Chief Executive of Afren, commented:

“Together with our partner Amni, we have recorded an excellent set of test results at the Okoro East oil discovery. We will now work towards realising near-term production from Okoro East by utilising available well slots at the nearby Okoro main field wellhead platform. The tie back to existing facilities ensures a very high return on the additional wells. We are simultaneously working up stand-alone development options, with up to 8 producing wells, that will enable us to fully realise the field’s significant potential. The well has also opened up follow on prospectivity on the block that we will continue to evaluate. With the JS-2 exploration well in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and the ENI operated Nunya-1x (Cuda-2) exploration well offshore Ghana currently drilling, the Okoro East discovery is an excellent start to Afren’s 2012 exploration campaign.”

Background

The Company announced on 17 January 2012 that the Okoro East exploration well, offshore south east Nigeria, had made a new oil discovery having encountered 549 ft true vertical thickness (TVT) of net oil pay and 41 ft of net gas pay in excellent quality reservoir sands. The well result represents a successful start to Afren’s 2012 exploration campaign that will see the Company participate in multiple wells across each of its core areas.

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Source: Afren, March 7, 2012; Image: Bumi Armada