Sahara Group Upstream announces onshore exploration drilling results

Sahara Group's Upstream Company has announced results of drilling and testing in OPL274, where Sahara holds a 100% working interest. The company’s upstream affiliate Enageed Resources Ltd completed the third well of a three-well onshore drilling program in the Edo State block and has demobilised its drilling rig, HPEB-187.

Sahara's CEO and MD Tonye Cole remarked, "Today marks an historic occasion for Sahara Group, for its upstream division and for the Nation. Success was achieved in doubling our certified 2P reserves in the Oki-Oziengbe South field and making a new commercial discovery with the Oluegi-1 exploration well. More importantly, this was realized by an indigenous Nigerian independent and all work was done in-house by our dynamic, young team. This is particularly satisfying because as we look ahead, we have a healthy prospect inventory in OPL 274 and several other promising blocks elsewhere in Nigeria and in our growing African opportunity portfolio. This portends well, with years of future drilling activity ahead and sustained growth for Sahara's Upstream."

Direction drilling

Oluegi-1 was drilled directionally to a total depth (TD) of 14 887 ft measured depth (MD) with a horizontal displacement of 2.7 km north of the well head and encountered five hydrocarbon zones, totalling 110 ft. of net pay. Sahara also drilled two successful appraisal wells, Oki-Oziengbe South 4 and 5. Oki-Oziengbe South 4 drilled directionally to TD at 12 520 ft MD 1.1 km SW from the well head, logging 211 ft of net pay in 13 hydrocarbon bearing zones, seven of which were new.

The well flowed 43-44° API oil to surface on two tests at rates of 2400 and 3200 bpd of oil, with no water, on a one-half inch choke. Oki-Oziengbe South 5 also drilled directionally, to TD at 12 873 ft MD 1 km south of the well head. It logged 298 ft of net pay in 19 reservoirs, 15 of which were oil-bearing and seven of which were new. Sahara's successful drilling program followed a two year-long, two-phase, land-swamp 3D seismic survey in the 871 km license. Sahara's seismic and drilling programme achieved nearly two million man-hours LTI-free operation.

Plans are next to tie-into existing facilities, allowing Sahara to begin first oil production. Four flow lines from Oki-Oziengbe South 4 and 5 well heads will take crude to the Oziengbe South flow station for crude processing.  When completed and flowing, oil from Oziengbe S will join NPDC's 6 in. pipelines at Oredo and Ogharefe where it will enter the Forcados trunk line.

Adapted from press release by Cecilia Rehn

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/exploration/16072014/sahara_group_upstream_announces_onshore_exploration_drilling_results/