Spain: production resumes at the Viura gas field with revenue expected in November

Drilling of the Viura-1B well commenced on 22 June 2024. The revised TD was successfully reached on 21 October 2024 after the decision to deepen the well. The well encountered the main Utrillas-A reservoir unit 50 m high to prognosis and encountered the top reservoir with good quality reservoir rock with significant gas shows throughout the drilling of the main reservoir target and with gas-bearing formations extending some 30 m deeper than nearby wells in the formation.

Deepening the well to appraise the Utrillas-B formation has resulted in the discovery of a new gas-bearing section beneath the proven and producing Utrillas-A formation in the Viura gas field. Logging, flow testing and further detailed analysis of the large amount of data acquired from the well will be required before there can be a revision to the gas in place and recoverable reserves in Viura, although a material upgrade is anticipated.

The Viura-1B well will be connected to the existing gas processing facilities on site during the planned flow testing programme, thus immediately generating revenues, with production income expected in November 2024. The Viura field recommenced production on 15 October 2024 from the existing well Viura 1 ST3 to test the facilities following recent maintenance and upgrades ahead of the planned testing programme. It has been flow tested at rates up to 17 million f³/d (0.48 million m³/d).

Having reached TD, the operator has run wireline logging tools to evaluate the Utrillas-B formation prior to completing this interval with a 4.5 in. liner. A multistage completion will then be installed to allow an extensive flow testing programme to establish the flow rates from the different sections of the Utrillas-A prior to placing the well on long-term production. The flow testing program for the Utrillas B section will be performed later in 2025.

The well has already exceeded pre-drill expectations for the main reservoir target the Utrillas-A and preliminary analysis indicates it has encountered a new gas bearing reservoir interval in the previously undrilled deeper Utrillas-B formation.

As already announced on 2 October 2024, the well encountered the main Utrillas-A reservoir unit 50 m high to prognosis with significant gas shows throughout the drilling and coring of the main reservoir target. Gas bearing reservoir was also encountered some 30 m TVD below the deepest gas bearing intervals in nearby wells. The deepening of the well to evaluate the Utrillas-B formation has also been successful. Gas bearing reservoir formations have been encountered and analysis of the wireline log data to be acquired across this newly drilled formation will be carried out to assess the magnitude of the gas in place in this newly drilled formation. Crucially, flow testing will be conducted to establish reservoir deliverability prior to bringing the well onto production. Production facilities at the Viura gas plant, which is connected to the Spanish national grid network, will be able to process the gas produced during the testing phase for immediate export and sale.

The total extra cost of deepening the well to appraise the Utrillas-B section is on budget at a gross cost of €2.5 million. Prospex has already paid its 15% share of the costs (€375 000) to deepen and complete the well.

Mark Routh, CEO, Prospex, commented: "I am extremely pleased to announce further successful results from the Viura-1B development well. Although there is a great deal of analysis to be carried out to fully assess the implications of the well results to the recoverable reserves from the Viura field, this has transpired to be a highly successful project in which to be involved.

"Deepening the well to evaluate the previously undrilled formations below the proven, developed and producing Viura gas field has turned out to be an inspirational decision. There are positive signs that a new gas bearing interval has been encountered with further analysis and importantly flow tests required to quantify the impact on recoverable reserves.

"It is also good news that the existing well on the Viura field successfully recommenced production last week with the produced gas being sold into the grid.

"I look forward to updating shareholders with results from the flow testing and further analysis as soon we have firm data to share."

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/25102024/spain-production-resumes-at-the-viura-gas-field-with-revenue-expected-in-november/