Helium One Global Ltd has started drilling the Itumbula West-1 (ITW-1) well before a planned extended well test on the Rukwa licence, Tanzania.
FEASIBILITY STUDY
On 26 July, operations began to test two intervals of the fractured Basement and faulted Karoo sections.
The company said it had drilled out the 9⅝” shoe track and was currently entering the original 8½” hole, after which it will deepen the well further into the Basement.
On re-entering the original wellbore, “above background levels of helium and hydrogen flowing to surface” were observed.
If the extended well test is successful, the well will be suspend as a future producer.
“During the testing phase, helium and hydrogen gas measurements will be monitored, along with flow rates, pressure and reservoir performance,” added Helium One.
“The company has the ability to collect and measure gas samples onsite and will be able to verify gas composition in real-time.
“The results from the EWT will be integrated into a detailed subsurface dynamic model, which will be used to determine resource estimates and formulate part of a wider feasibility study.”
SLB (formerly Schlumberger) has been contracted and is on site for fluid services with surface well testing equipment en route.
The process from spud to completion of extended well testing across the two zones is expected to take approximately five weeks.
“The results from the DST [drill stem test] in February 2024, whereby the well successfully flowed 4.7% helium and 2.2% hydrogen, to surface from fractured basement, were very encouraging and we look forward to now fully evaluating this play,” said chief executive Lorna Blaisse.
“The team have been working on the subsurface modelling ahead of the EWT and the results will be integrated into the feasibility study.”