Results from its latest exploration well offshore Equatorial Guinea have led Ophir Energy to indicate it now has sufficient gas resources to further increase the planned production capacity from a Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) project that it plans to bring onstream by 2019.

After taking in the results from its Silenus East-1 well, drilled in Block R with the Vantage Titanium Explorer drillship, Ophir says it has now discovered around 1.2 Tcf of gas in the Silenus area.

“The Silenus East-1 well has discovered an estimated mean recoverable 405 Bcf of gas from the upper and deeper reservoirs and has significantly derisked a family of similar surrounding prospects, such that the total mean recoverable gas in the broader Silenus area including this discovery is now estimated at circa 1.2 Tcf,” Ophir stated as it declared results from the latest well.

Silenus East encountered a 67 m (219 ft) gas column in a primary target area – with high quality reservoir which correlated with pre-drill expectations. The well was also deepened to penetrate a further high risk oil target where high quality but water-wet reservoir was encountered with weak oil shows. This area remains of interest to the company, Ophir added.

Nevertheless the gas at Silenus East builds the prospects for the FLNG plan, as previously reported (see DI, 27 August 2014, page 1).

Ophir now says the discovered resources for Block R total 3.4?Tcf, following Silenus East 1 and the Tonel North-1 wells, a significant rise from the previous base case figure of 2.5 Tcf. This figure includes 1.3 Tcf from the previously drilled Fortuna Complex, 1.2 Tcf from the Silenus area and 0.5 Tcf from Tonel, plus a further 0.4 Tcf from other smaller discoveries. The Titanium Explorer drillship has now moved to complete the Fortuna-2 appraisal well, where Ophir will conduct the first flow test on the block.

“The Silenus East well result has confirmed sufficient incremental volumes for Ophir to be able to expand the Block R FLNG project from a 2.5 MMtpa to a 3 MMtpa project,” said Ophir chief executive Nick Cooper. “This is important in that it provides economies of scale that increase the value of this already economic project.”

Cooper confirmed that the Block R project is due to come onstream by 2019. “This timetable is expected to be confirmed when we achieve the milestones of signing the Block R gas terms and confirming the midstream partners during Q4 2014.” Cooper added.

Operator Ophir holds an 80% stake in Block R, which covers 2,450 sq km in water depths ranging from 600-1, 950 m (1,969-6,398 ft). The company is also continuing with its plan to bring in a farm-in partner or partners by the end of this year.

Petrofac is acting as the development operator for the project up until the Final Investment Decision, with the preferred FLNG vessel provider to be selected within the next month, it is understood. Previously tipped contenders include the Bumi Armada-Keppel-IHI consortium, up against others including Excelerate and Samsung Heavy Industries.

The FLNG FEED and Integrated FEED will get underway later this year or during the early part of 2015.