Australian exploration and production company Cooper Energy has said that the contingent oil field resources of the Hammamet West oil field offshore the Tunisian coast has grown by 37% making it an attractive in terms of carrying out further appraisal work on the oil field following high resolution 3D seismic analysis.
The increase in contingent resources has been mainly driven by an increase in the size of the Abiod formation structure, the company announced in a statement.
The contingent resource estimate is now 67 million barrels of oil, compared to the previous estimate of 49 million barrels of oil.
The contingent resource estimate is split between the Birsa sandstone reservoir and the Abiod carbonate formation with 10 million barrels assessed to be recoverable from the Birsa and 57 million barrels to be recoverable
from the Abiod.
The Bargou Joint Venture between operator Cooper Energy which has an 85% stake and Jacka Resources holding the remaining 15% is planning to undertake further processing of the 3D seismic data to assist with imaging of the Abiod carbonate formation and to complete the design of a Hammamet West horizontal well to test the production capacity of the Abiod.
At this time a well is planned for 3Q2011, subject to material availability and rig schedules, according to the statement.
Michael Scott, managing director, noted: “We are pleased that the seismic interpretation work has increased the attractiveness of the Hammamet West Oil Field as a viable appraisal target. Work on the Oil Field will now concentrate on imaging the Abiod carbonate reservoir to assist with the placement of a horizontal well. The horizontal well is being planned to test the production capacity of the Abiod reservoir. If the test is successful it will provide critical reservoir information that will be used to optimise the field development plan.”
Further details on the well and timing will be announced at the appropriate time, the company said.
