Vaalco restarts South Tchibala well after pump issues

Houston-based Vaalco Energy has reported that the South Tchibala 2-H well, offshore Gabon, is back in production after experiencing issues with the electrical submersible pump system. 

The South Tchibala 2-H well was brought back on production after using a hydraulic workover unit to replace a failed ESP system, Vaalco said on Wednesday. The well is currently producing at a stabilized rate of 1,600 barrels of oil per day (bopd) gross, or 430 bopd net to Vaalco.

As previously reported, the ESP system failed in both the South Tchibala 2-H and the Avouma 2-H wells this past summer. Both wells produce from the Avouma platform. Prior to temporarily shutting in the well after the ESP system failed, the South Tchibala 2-H well was producing approximately 1,700 gross bopd or 460 bopd net to Vaalco.

Separately, the company said, work is proceeding as planned to replace the failed ESP system in the Avouma 2-H well and the company said it expects to return the well to production prior to year end. A detailed inspection of the failed ESPs is underway to determine the cause of the failures and results from the inspections are expected in the first quarter of 2017, the company added.

Cary Bounds, VAALCO’s Chief Operating Officer and Interim CEO commented, “We are pleased to have restarted production on the South Tchibala 2-H well and will continue to monitor the performance of the ESP.  We are also optimistic about restoring production from the Avouma 2-H well soon.

“I am especially pleased that we have demonstrated that we can conduct well interventions utilizing a hydraulic workover unit which resulted in a more efficient operation at a lower cost when compared with the prior practice of employing a drilling rig. With the recent rise in commodity prices and the resumption of production from the Avouma platform, we are optimistic about our outlook for 2017.”