Ophir has provided an update on recent drilling activity in Indonesia and Thailand on Dec. 7.

The Paus Biru-1 exploration well has resulted in a gas discovery. The well was drilled to a total measured depth of 710 m (2,329 ft) and encountered 29 m (95 ft) of estimated net pay within the target Mundu formation carbonate reservoir.

A drill stem test taken over an interval between 576 m (1,889 ft) and 605 m (1,984 ft) measured depth flowed gas at a rate of 11.2 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscf/d) sustained over five hours period through a 64/64-inch choke and at 525 psig well head pressure. The well was shut in for 9 days for pressure build up before a maximum flow test which produced 13.8 MMscf/d through a 120/64-inch choke for 55 minutes.

The well has been plugged and abandoned as a gas discovery and plan of development will now be prepared for submission to the regulator for approval. The Paus Biru discovery lies approximately 27 km (16 miles) east of the producing Oyong gas field, which is also in the Sampang PSC. The approved budget for Paus Biru-1 well was $15 million.

Ophir, through its affiliate company, has 45% participating interest and is the operator of the Sampang PSC.

The first part of the Phase 4 development drilling program has been completed successfully. Four workovers and three new production wells were drilled, all of which have been brought on stream. Production from Bualuang averaged 9,600 barrels per day of oil (bbl/d) in November against a year to date average of 8,000 bbl/d.

A step out exploration well to test a small target to the north of the Bualuang field was drilled as part of the drilling campaign but the main T2 reservoir target was not well developed in this location and the well has been abandoned as a dry hole.

The total cost of the drilling campaign was $25 million versus budget of $31 million.

“Such discoveries can be highly valuable as they deliver both fresh production volumes and extend the economic life of the fields already in production,” Alan Booth, Interim CEO of Ophir, said.