Oil Search reports that the Juha 5 well in PRL 2, PNG, commenced drilling on 23 December. As at 0600 on 28 December, the well was at a depth of 243.5 metres and preparing to drill ahead in a 14 3/4” hole. During the week the 18 ½” hole was drilled to 243.5 metres and 16” casing set.
Juha 5 is located 40 kilometres north-west of the Hides gas field. Three wells were drilled on the Juha structure in the early 1980s, and proved the presence of a condensate-rich gas accumulation. No gaswater-contact was located in these wells and the Juha 5 well will drill deeper on the structure with the aim of constraining the vertical gas column height. The well is targeting the Toro reservoir at a depth of around 3,000 metres. The planned total depth of the well is 3,700 metres.
The well will be followed in early 2007 by a second well which will drill a large, untested segment adjacent to the proven segment. The objective of the two wells is to increase considerably both the proven and probable reserves.
The participants in Juha 5 are:
Oil Search Limited* 31.5%
ExxonMobil 56.0%
Merlin Petroleum 12.5%
* While ExxonMobil is operator of PRL 2, Oil Search is operating the Juha wells.