Ithaca Energy reports 8,000 boed flow test from new Stella field well

ABERDEEN, United Kingdom -- Ithaca Energy has completed flow test operations on the fifth and final development well on Stella field, with the well achieving a flow rate of over 8,000 boed, the company announced Monday.

Well 30/6a-A3Y (A3) is the fifth development well drilled on Stella field. The well was drilled to a total measured depth subsea of 14,267 ft, with a 2,137 ft gross horizontal reservoir section completed in the Ekofisk chalk reservoir, the secondary reservoir underlying the primary Stella Andrew sandstone formation in which the first four Stella wells have been drilled. The Ekofisk well intersected a net reservoir interval of 2,073 ft, equating to 97% net pay.

A clean-up flow test was performed in order to remove the chemical stimulation fluids injected to enhance the natural fracture network of the chalk formation and improve the long-term production performance of the well.

Following the initial clean-up period, a series of production flow tests were conducted on the well over approximately five days in order to obtain additional data and fluid samples to assist with future reservoir management.

The well was flowed at rates of up to 7,172 bopd on a 48/64 in. choke, with a gas/oil ratio of approximately 1,850 standard cubic feet per barrel. The average flow rate over a 12-hour period was 8,080 boed, comprising 6,191 bopd and 11.3 MMcfgd. Fluid samples show that the oil gravity is approximately 39° API.

The A3 well is in the process of being suspended and operations are scheduled to be completed in the coming days. As with the previous Stella development wells, the suspension configuration is such that the well can be brought on to production without the requirement for any further well intervention activity once the FPF-1 floating production facility is on location and hooked up.

Upon completion of operations on the A3 well the ENSCO 100 rig will be demobilized from the field, marking the end of the Stella development drilling campaign.

The five Stella wells that have been drilled have achieved a combined maximum clean-up flow test rate in excess of 53,000 boed. This well capacity significantly de-risks the initial annualized production forecast for the Greater Stella Area hub of approximately 30,000 boed, 16,000 boed net to Ithaca.

Les Thomas, Ithaca’s CEO, commented, “The results of the Ekofisk well further de-risk forecast cashflows from Stella field and the high oil content of the well is encouraging for maximizing liquids production during the period when the FPF-1 facilities will be operating at plateau gas production rates. We are also encouraged that there is further upside potential for reserves development in the Ekofisk formation.”