Predator Oil & Gas Holdings plc has suspended drilling of the MOU-2 well after encountering “extremely sticky clays” which prevented wire logs from penetrating further at Guercif, onshore Morocco.
RE-EVALUATION
The sticky clays are in a geological formation overlying the Moulouya Fan primary objective.
The company said it would re-evaluate the drilling programme through the geological formation before deciding to re-enter MOU-2.
GEOLOGICAL FORMATION
Predator added that the geological formation was interpreted to be a slumped basin margin debris-flow not encountered in previous drilling in the area.
“The clays are particularly under-compacted and sticky due to very rapid deposition within the debris-flow.
“The interval presented a drilling challenge with very low rates of penetration.
“The debris flow potentially forms a highly effective seal on the underlying Moulouya Fan.”
SAND QUALITY
The company has the option to re-enter the well after having reached a depth of 1,260 metres measured depth.
Wireline logs were acquired from the 95/8″ casing point at 677m to 1,010m measured depth.
“Below the logged interval a gross interval of 165 metres was penetrated with up to 100 metres of variable quality sand,” added Predator.
“Presence of significant thicknesses of sands demonstrate the potential sand source area feeding the Moulouya Fan below the debris flow.”
The company is also progressing and revising the MOU-1 testing programme to gather as much information as possible on connectivity of potential gas sands over a wide area.
PRUDENT
“MOU-2 has been an extremely challenging well to drill due to the presence of a particular geological formation not previously encountered,” said executive chairman Paul Griffiths.
“The prudent and safer option was to suspend the well and leave it in a state to re-enter once a better understanding of the mud programme required to drill this particularly complex interval efficiently and cost-effectively.
“Whilst this is not the result we wanted the pre-drill objectives and potential resources remain unchanged.
“The Star Valley rig will remain in place over the well head.”