Afren: set to make waves off Nigeria
Afren prepares to spin at Ebok
UK independent Afren has shored up a forward drilling programme to develop the Ebok field off south-east Nigeria with local partner Oriental Energy Resources.
The partners have sealed a deal to hire the Trident IV jack-up rig and plan to start appraisal drilling in the fourth quarter this year.
The pair will carry out up to two Drill Stem Tests with full sand control to determine the rate and properties of the oil tested as well as extensive wireline logging.
Based on the successful outcome of the appraisal phase, Afren will submit a field development plan to the Nigerian authorities in the second quarter of next year.
The field lies in 135 feet of water on Nigeria’s OML 67 licence, about 50 kilometres offshore. A discovery well and two appraisals were drilled between 1968 and 1970, striking 271 feet of net potential oil pay between 2600 and 3600 feet. The zones were not production tested.
The field is thought to contain more than 25 million barrels of recoverable oil. Afren said appraisal drilling was planned for later this field, drawing on 3D seismic data shot in 1992.