Baku, Azerbaijan, May 10
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
Canada’s Zenith Energy, which is the operator of Muradkhanli-Jafarli-Zardab, the largest onshore block of oil fields in Azerbaijan, will consider deepening Z-21 well by drilling, Trend learned from the company.
The company confirmed that it has now successfully pulled out a mixed string, comprised of 2 3/8" and 2 7/8" tubing, totalling 3,504 meters and that it has successfully pulled all of the 4 5" tubing, totaling 1,500 meters.
“Zenith is currently running wash pipe with a notched collar to fish the remaining 166 meters of 2 3/8" remaining in the wellbore. Once this is completed, Zenith's field personnel will run in hole with a drill bit and clean out the casing to the well's total depth, 3,982 meters, and perform a production test,” said the company.
In addition, the geological investigation and extended technical analysis, has led the company to consider the possibility of deepening Z-21 beyond the Maykop formation into the Eocene fromation by drilling an additional 300 meters.
“This would extend the total depth of the well to approximately 4270-4300 meters. The final decision on the deepening of Z-21 is predicated on the outcome of the initial production test to be performed once the casing of the well has been cleaned out to the current total depth,” said the company. “The primary reason for the evaluation of this possibility is the proximity of well Z-21 to well Z-3, which was spud in 1979 and drilled to a total depth of 4,300 metres into the Eocene and Upper Cretaceous formations. Z-3 tested approximately 2,900 barrels of mixed hydrocarbons per day before the wellbore collapsed. Historical records indicate 775 metres of 2 7/8" tubing has been left in the well. In the event that a satisfactory rate of production was achieved from the Maykop formation in well Z-21 during the initial production test, the Company may choose not to perform any drilling operations in Z-21 and instead begin the workover of Z-3.”
Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR and Zenith Aran Oil Company signed a Rehabilitation, Exploration, Development and Production Sharing Agreement (REDPSA) in March 2016 for a block that includes the Muradkhanli, Jafarli and Zardab oilfields. These fields cover an area of 642.2 square kilometers. Production under the agreement began in August of 2016.
Zenith holds a 80-percent participating interest in the three fields within the contract area, while SOCAR retains the remaining 20 percent. The duration of the agreement is 25 years, with a potential extension of five additional years.
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