Petro Matad Ltd. spudded on Sept. 21 the Gobi Bear-1 exploration well in Block XX in Tamsag basin, eastern Mongolia.
The well is being drilled by DQE International rig #30609 about 12 km southwest of the Heron-1 oil discovery (OGJ Online, Sept. 9, 2024).
Gobi Bear-1 is targeting reservoir quality sandstones in the Cretaceous Lower Tsagaantsav formation, the main producing horizon in Tamsag basin, which was proven to be oil bearing in Petro Matad's nearby Heron-1 and Gazelle-1 wells.
Based on seismic interpretation, the primary reservoir target in Gobi Bear-1 is anticipated to be reached at a depth of about 1,400 m within a combination structural-stratigraphic trap at the southern end of the proven prolific Toson Uul sub-basin in which about 2 billion bbl of oil in place have been discovered in the last 20 years.
The well is expected to be drilled to about 1,800 m TD in about 20 days, following which wireline logging will be conducted to determine if it merits testing.
The Gobi Bear prospect is estimated to have mean oil-in-place potential of 307 million bbl. The well is expected to provide geological information on the characteristics of the Lower Tsagaantsav formation where petrophysical parameters may be improved at the expected shallow depths of burial.
