IOG plc said it was on course for first gas by the end of the second quarter after overcoming problems from the gas and oil influx at the Blythe H2 well at the Saturn Banks project.
REVISED PLAN
In mid-April a gas and oil influx from the Hauptdolomit, encountered while drilling the development well, gave the company options of sidetracking the well or isolating the zone with cement.
Further setbacks of a stuck drill string and a plugged drillpipe were resolved in the first week of May.
IOG today said that the 7″ liner was run and cemented “to isolate the kick/loss zone”.
The 6″ hole section began from the 7″ liner shoe at 9,860ft measured depth (MD) as per the company’s revised plan.
The 6″ hole section continued to the Rotliegendes reservoir section, encountered on 14 May at a depth of 11,660 ft MD, was within expectations.
Drilling continues to an expected total depth of c.13,000 ft MD.
PIPELINE
IOG will increase production from Blythe H2 to manage safe and efficient production of the resident pipeline fluids into Bacton, before building up to 30-40 mmscf/d rate.
The Blythe H1 well is initially planned to be shut in once the H2 well is fully onstream to reduce water production into the pipeline, but will remain available for production.
Chief executive Rupert Newall added that the top reservoir has been encountered within expectations.
“The teams are working tirelessly to ensure the remainder of the well as well as the hook up and commissioning of the new well into the Saturn Banks pipeline system is delivered as efficiently as possible.”