Parex, Frontera to evaluate options following Colombia discovery
Parex Resources Inc., Calgary, and Frontera Energy Corp., Toronto, will evaluate options to drill one or two additional delineation wells in the VIM-1 block in the Lower Magdalena Valley in Colombia following a recent discovery.
The La Belleza-1 exploration well, drilled to 11,680 ft TD, encountered 179 ft total MD (155 ft total vertical depth) of potential hydrocarbon bearing reservoir in the Cienaga De Oro formation, Frontera said in a release Feb. 6.
The well was tested under natural flowing conditions over a 328-hr period and produced 32,728 bbl of 43° API oil, 147 MMcf of natural gas and 3,996 bbl water. The average flow rate during the test was 2,395 b/d and 10.7 MMcf/d (4,272 boe/d combined) at an average water cut of 12%. The flow rate during the final 24-hr of the test was 2,696 b/d and 11.8 MMcf/d (4,766 boe/d combined) at an average watercut of 10%.
The initial shut-in wellhead pressure was 4,700 psi. Wellhead pressure during the test remained relatively flat at 3,700 psi. The producing rate was limited by the test facilities on location. Bottom hole flowing pressures remained relatively stable at about 6,000 psi indicating an average drawdown of 14%. The initial bottom hole pressure was 7,031 psi and the final extrapolated pressure after the 174-hr buildup was 7,011 psi. The well will be flow tested for one additional week followed by an extended 30-day pressure buildup period which will provide additional information on the final reservoir pressure.
Additional wells, to be drilled from the existing La Belleza well pad, are expected in this year’s second half. The partners are also evaluating different options for gas commercialization and infrastructure requirements.
Parex Resources is operator of the block with 50% interest. Frontera holds the other 50%.
Also in the Lower Magdalena Valley, Frontera spud the Asai-1 exploration well in the Guama block where it is operator with 100% interest. The company is targeting oil, natural gas condensate, and natural gas in the Porquero formation at 12,000 ft. The well is expected to take 75 days to drill with results expected in May.