DNO International, the Norwegian oil and gas company, has initiated production from the first horizontal well in the Tawke field in the Kurdistan region of Iraq at a record rate of 25,000 bpd.
The company previously reported that the Tawke-20 well had an average of 8,000 bpd from each of the first four of ten fractured corridors penetrated by a 600-metre horizontal section in the Cretaceous reservoir interval of the field. Each of the remaining six corridors also an average of 8,000 bpd.
Following completion of testing, the well has been placed on production but is subject to well bore and surface facilities limitations. Currently, the most productive vertical well in the Tawke field is flowing at an average daily rate of 10,000 barrels.
“We are pleased with the exceptional results from this well and excited about the prospects for horizontal drilling at Tawke,” said Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani, DNO International’s Executive Chairman. “Our next task is to optimize production from Tawke-20 while assessing the potential of horizontal wells in terms of drilling efficiency, well recovery factor and overall Tawke field output capacity,” he added.
Drilling operations are underway at a second horizontal well, Tawke-23, and the Company is preparing to commence drilling of a third horizontal well, Tawke-21.
DNO International holds a 55 per cent interest in and operates the Tawke license. Genel Energy plc holds 25 per cent and the Kurdistan Regional Government the remaining 20 per cent interest.
