Total's PNG Well Reports High Quality Gas Reservoirs

Total-operated Antelope-4 sidetrack-1 well in Petroleum Retention License (PRL) 15 in Papua New Guinea has confirmed a southern extension of the Elk-Antelope field’s high-quality, gas-bearing dolomite, JV partner InterOil said Wednesday.

The logs measured 182 vertical meters (597 feet) of dolomite and a vertical gross gas column of about 339 meters (1,112 feet).

InterOil Chief Executive Michael Hession said the field continued to surprise on the upside.

“First, we intersected the top of the reservoir 36 meters (118 feet) higher than the original Antelope-4 penetration,” Hession said. “Second, our interpretation of data from Antelope-4 and Antelope-5 suggests that the field-wide gas-water contact is deeper than previously interpreted.”

The PRL 15 joint venture intends to begin drilling Antelope-6 in December this year as part of the appraisal program to define the resource for the Papua LNG project. The joint venture is also considering an additional appraisal well on the western flank of the Antelope field that could add an incremental volume of 1 to 3 Tcfe.