Bankers eyes polymer, secondary work at Patos-Marinza

Bankers Petroleum Ltd., Calgary, has begun injectivity testing at the first pilot polymer flood location in Patos-Marinza field in Albania.

Following the test completion, expected later this quarter, progression of the pilot will be sanctioned should results merit further pilot work at this location.

Meawihle, the company continues to focus horizontal drilling in the primary Driza reservoir zones and has expanded drilling in several Marinza zones with encouraging results. Pattern development drilling for secondary recovery techniques in the Marinza and Lower Driza zones also started in the first quarter.

The field’s production averaged 16,916 b/d of oil, up 4.7% from output in the last quarter of 2012.

The crude oil inventory on Mar. 31 was 340,000 bbl, 26,000 bbl higher than on Dec. 31, 2012. First quarter oil price averaged $89.42/bbl, 80% of Brent versus 71% of Brent in the last quarter of 2012.

Thirty-two horizontal wells were drilled in the quarter ended Mar. 31, including 31 horizontal production wells and one horizontal lateral redrill well in the field’s main area, and four of these wells will be placed on production this month to join the other 28 already producing. The company is running five drilling rigs.

A second exploratory well is to be drilled on Block F in the second quarter of 2013.