QASIM AL MAASHANI
MUSCAT, SEPT 10
Swedish energy firm Maha Energy AB announced this week the start of drilling operations targeting hydrocarbons in the Mafraq field in Block 70 in central Oman.
The latest well – the first of six new wells planned to be drilled in the Block – was spudded on Tuesday, five weeks ahead of schedule, the company said in a press statement.
Maha Energy was successful in securing Block 70, which contains the Mafraq heavy oil discovery, in a 2019 – 2020 government bid round. The Mafraq structure is a delineated heavy oil field that was extensively tested by Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) in 1988 and 1991. The field tested 15,700 barrels of 13° API oil over a period of 24 days using a Progressive Cavity Pump (PCP) from a single well.
Commenting on its drilling programme, Maha Energy explained: “Plans are well developed to commence drilling on the Block. At the moment a total of six wells will be drilled. First, four horizontal production test wells will be drilled and placed on long term test production. Two appraisal wells will then be drilled to (a) identify the oil water contact on the structure, and (b) determine fracture orientation at various levels of the field. If results are deemed positive, the Company has secured sufficient equipment and services to immediately drill additional wells to add to the long term well test production volumes.”
Gulf Drilling Rig 109 has been deployed for the drilling programme, according to the company. In addition to the spudding of Mafraq-7, a total of four drilling pads and 18 kilometres of roads have been refurbished and/or constructed on Block 70. Work is proceeding to negotiate temporary offtake agreements for the extended well test produced crude oil, it further stated.
Last month, Maha Energy announced that it had entered into an agreement with Mafraq Energy LLC for Maha to reduce the participating Interest in the Block 70 Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA) from 100 per cent to 65 per cent. Maha will continue to be the Operator of the Block. The agreement is subject to government approval in Oman.
