The Tawke-16 well in the Kurdistan region of Iraq flowed at a combined rate of more than 25,000 b/d of oil from multiple zones tested separately, likely making it the field’s test well so far, said DNO International ASA, Oslo.
Appraising the field’s undrilled northern flank, the well went to 2,369 m and cut more than 350 m of gross continuous oil column in the Cretaceous interval. It flowed 26-27° gravity oil and is expected to be connected to existing pipeline and processing facilities by mid-April.
The cost to drill, complete, and test the well was under $7 million.
DNO International is continuing to develop Tawke field with a goal of boosting production to 100,000 b/d by the end of 2012 (OGJ, Feb. 6, 2012, p. 48). Tawke-16 is the first of four wells targeting the Cretaceous that the company plans to drill in 2012. A fifth well, Tawke Deep, will also penetrate the deeper Jurassic and Triassic intervals in the field later in the year.
DNO International has a 55% operated working interest in the field. Genel Energy has 25%, and the Kurdistan Regional Government has 20%.
Alan Petzet | Chief Editor Exploration
Alan Petzet is Chief Editor-Exploration of Oil & Gas Journal in Houston. He is editor of the Weekly E&D Newsletter, emailed to OGJ subscribers, and a regular contributor to the OGJ Online subscriber website.
Petzet joined OGJ in 1981 after 13 years in the Tulsa World business-oil department. He was named OGJ Exploration Editor in 1990. A native of Tulsa, he has a BA in journalism from the University of Tulsa.
