Oryx Petroleum Corporation has announced that the Banan-2 (“BAN-2”) appraisal well in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has been spudded.
“We are very excited to have successfully accelerated the spudding of the BAN-2 appraisal well. This is one of the most important wells we will drill in 2014 as it allows us to assess the multi-hundred million barrel potential up-dip of the Banan-1 exploration well that was successfully tested earlier this year. The drilling of BAN-2 and the acquisition of 3D seismic in the next few months should provide us with a better understanding of the full potential of the Banan discovery,” said Henry Legarre, chief operating officer, Oryx Petroleum.
The company is the operator and has a 65% participating and working interest in the Hawler license area where the well is located.
The Sakson Hilong 10 rig spudded the BAN-2 appraisal well approximately 5 km t North-West of the Banan-1 exploration well (“BAN-1”). In March 2014, oil was flowed in two cased-hole drill stem tests on the BAN-1 exploration well, one in each of the Cretaceous (Shiranish and top Kometan formations) and the Lower Jurassic (Butmah formation). Additionally, the drilling and test results showed the development of additional reservoirs that will be further appraised and tested as part of the appraisal program for Banan.
BAN-2 is targeting oil potential in Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic formations and is planned to be drilled to a total measured depth of 3,800metres. The well is expected to reach targeted total depth and complete testing in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Oryx Petroleum is an international oil exploration company with operations focused in Africa and the Middle East.
