Zephyr Energy PLC (AIM: ZPHR, OTCQB: ZPHRF) has started drilling at the State 36-2 LNW-CC-R well, which is part of the Paradox Basin project in Utah.
This new well is designed to duplicate the company’s original well by targeting the same Cane Creek reservoir and exploring the previously discovered over-pressured, gas-bearing natural fracture system.
The drilling will reach a total depth of 10,362 feet, incorporating a 270-foot horizontal section.
The key objectives of the new well are:
o To successfully complete drilling operations to TD safely and without harm to people, the environment or equipment.
o To successfully twin the original well and intersect the same Cane Creek reservoir natural fracture system identified by it.
o To confirm the presence of hydrocarbons as found by the original well, and further appraise the Cane Creek reservoir at Zephyr’s federal White Sands Unit.
o Should the original well result be replicated, to assess the reservoir productivity by flow testing the new well.
Figure 1. Map of the top Cane Creek reservoir illustrating the well design and targeting of the new well relative to the original well which found productive hydrocarbon-bearing natural fractures. The trajectories of the original well and new well are shown in red and blue respectively.
The new well’s key objective is to target the natural fracture productivity intersected (see Figure 2 below)
by the original well by entering the Cane Creek reservoir close to the original well bore. This will be achieved by using all offset geological and geophysical information to help steer the well and then to perform two phases of electromagnetic ranging to locate the steel casing of the original well bore.
This will allow the Company to attempt to closely replicate the original well trajectory and target the reservoir conditions found there as best as possible. Should that goal be achieved then the new well will be tested to assess reservoir productivity and its implications for the greater field development.
“We are excited to begin drilling operations and aim for a safe and efficient process, followed by a successful well test,” said Colin Harrington, the chief executive, in a statement.
“We are eager to keep our stakeholders informed as the drilling advances and are optimistic that these efforts will significantly enhance the potential of the Paradox project,” he added.
The drilling operations are expected to last about 30 days. Following this, a test crew will be deployed to the site to assess any productive natural fractures encountered by the new well.
