International Frontier Resources Corporation has announced that its joint venture Tonalli Energia has successfully and safely reached total depth at its first evaluation well, TEC-10, on its onshore Tecolutla block, in partnership with Mexican petrochemical leader Grupo IDESA.
The TEC-10 directional evaluation well was drilled to the target depth of 2453 m (Total Vertical Depth TVD, 2490 m Measured Depth). Production casing has been installed and the drilling rig was released on Friday May 4th, 2018. TEC-10 Highlights include:
- The TEC-10 well encountered the top of the El Abra reef at 2315 m TVD and drilled 138m of gross reef thickness.
- Wireline logs indicate 57 m of the penetrated El Abra reef has above 3% porosity with an average porosity of 5.7%.
- There are multiple prospective intervals including a primary target interval in the upper El Abra with 13m of net reservoir with a porosity range of 6 - 18% (average 10.7% porosity). Tonalli is encouraged by the high porosity identified in the TEC-10 wireline logs. Furthermore, a visual inspection of the core taken from within this primary target interval has visible porosity and oil staining.
- Three intervals in the lower El Abra had indications of oil while drilling and porosity values indicated on wireline logs of between 3 - 6%. The lowest identified interval is at 2408 m TVD which is 70 m below the lowest produced interval at Tecolutla. It is encouraging to encounter oil indications deeper than originally expected in the El Abra reef. Ongoing completion operations are expected to determine the presence and deliverability of hydrocarbons at these deeper depths.
- Commencement of completion and production testing of the TEC-10 well is expected in mid May and will determine production rates and recovered fluid properties.
“The successful drilling of the TEC-10 well is a major milestone combining the efforts of our Mexican and Canadian team members, service contractors and partners,” said Steve Hanson, President and CEO of IFR and Director of Tonalli Energia.
Continuing analysis of wireline, imaging logs and core analysis will be utilized to verify the above interpretations, characterise the El Abra reservoir, refine the 3D seismic model, and identify the further potential of the Tecolutla block. IFR will provide an update on the results of the production tests when they become available.
The Tecolutla field is located within the Tampico-Misantla Basin, which has multiple reservoirs with diverse play types and access to existing infrastructure, market, service sector providers and an established supply chain.
IFR was one of the first foreign companies to participate in the historic reform of Mexico’s oil and gas sector when Tonalli was granted the right to operate, develop and produce hydrocarbons at Tecolutla through a licensing contract with the Mexican government.