Ithaca Energy Inc. successfully completed flow test operations on the fifth development well on the Stella Field, the company said in an April 13 statement. The well achieved a flow rate of more than 8,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d).

Well 30/6a-A3Y (A3) was drilled to a total measured depth subsea of 4,349 m (14,267 ft), with a 651 m (2,137 ft) gross horizontal reservoir section completed in the Ekofisk chalk reservoir. The Ekofisk reservoir is the secondary reservoir underlying the primary Stella Andrew sandstone formation in which the first four Stella wells were drilled. The Ekofisk well intersected a net reservoir interval of 632 m (2,073 ft), equating to 97% net pay.

A clean-up flow test was conducted to remove the chemical stimulation fluids injected to enhance the chalk formation’s natural fracture network and to improve the well’s long-term production performance.

A series of production flow tests were conducted on the well after the initial clean-up period for about five days to get additional data and fluid samples to assist with reservoir management. The well was flowed at rates up to 7,172 barrels per day (bbl/d) of oil on a 48/64 inch choke, with a gas/oil ratio of about 1,850 cubic feet per barrel. The average flow rate over 12 hours was 8,080 boe/d, comprising 6,191 bbl/d of oil and 11.3 million cubic feet per day. Fluid samples show that the oil gravity is about 39° API.

The A3 well is currently being suspended and operations are scheduled to be completed in the coming days. The suspension configuration allows the well to be brought on to production without needing any further well intervention activity once the floating production facility is on location and hooked up.

Once operations on the A3 well are complete, the ENSCO 100 drilling rig will be demobilized from the field to end the Stella development drilling campaign. Combined, the five Stella wells achieved a combined maximum clean-up flow test rate of more than 53,000 boe/d. This well capacity significantly de-risks the initial annualised production forecast for the Greater Stella Area hub of about 30,000 boe/d, 16,000 boe/d net to Ithaca.

“We are very pleased to have delivered another successful flow test on the fifth and final well in the Stella development drilling program,” said Les Thomas, CEO, in a statement. “The results of the Ekofisk well further de-risk forecast cashflows from the Stella field and the high oil content of the well is encouraging for maximizing liquids production during the period when the FPF-1 facilities will be operating at plateau gas production rates. We are also encouraged that there is further upside potential for reserves development in the Ekofisk formation.”

Offshore