Hardman has completed testing of the third and final interval of the three hydrocarbon bearing zones at the Waraga-1 location. Following a shut-in period for pressure build-up, the uppermost zone (1680 to 1710 metres) produced a maximum stabilised flow rate of c. 3,650 barrels of oil per day (bopd) of 18.6° API oil through a 1” choke. This follows the company’s previous update that reported the same zone flowed at a stabilised rate of c. 2,100 bopd through a 36/64” choke.
This concludes the testing programme at Waraga-1, designed to assess formation productivity and acquire good quality fluid samples. The well has been plugged and suspended ready for completion and potential future production.
Test #1. Lower Zone
Perforated Interval Depth: 1,888-1,894 metres
Main test (36/64” choke): 1,500 bopd
Maximumflow (1” choke): 4,200 bopd
Oil quality: 33.8° API
Test #2. Middle Zone
Perforated Interval Depth: 1,782 to 1,792.5 metres
Main test (36/64” choke): 2,400 bopd
Maximumflow (1” choke): 4,200 bopd
Oil quality: 33.8° API
Test #3. Upper Zone
Perforated Interval Depth: 1,680 to 1,710 metres
Main test (36/64” choke): 2,100 bopd
Maximumflow (1” choke): 3,650 bopd
Oil quality: 18.6° API
The rig and testing equipment will now be relocated to the Mputa-1 location for flow testing of similar oil bearing intervals to those tested at Waraga. In addition a flow test will be attempted from fractured basement lithologies where hydrocarbons were encountered during the drilling of the Mputa well – an additional play type to those already tested at Waraga. The programme at Mputa is expected to commence in early August.
Hardman’s next drilling update will be in mid July 2006 with the spudding of the Colin-1 well, located in PSC Area ‘A’, offshore Mauritania.
Simon Potter, Hardman’s CEO and Managing Director commented: “We are very pleased with the test results at Waraga as the strong flows from all zones are indicative of highly permeable reservoirs. We continue to assess the commercial scale of the Waraga - Mputa area and our immediate development options.
The discoveries to date have significantly reduced the risk on other prospects both onshore as well as offshore under Lake Albert, where our focus is on the material potential in likely better developed sections of the rift basin.
The planned future programme will see the Hardman/Tullow joint venture drill a further three wells as we look forward to a very active period assessing this region.”
Equities in Block 2 are:
Hardman Petroleum Africa Pty Ltd (Operator) 50.0%
Tullow Oil 50.0%
