CGX Energy and Frontera Energy to drill upon rig’s arrival
November 28, 2022, Melisa Cavcic
Partners in the Corentyne block offshore Guyana – Canada’s CGX Energy and Frontera Energy – have wrapped up the preparations for the drilling of their second exploration well on this block. As a result, all the boxes have been ticked to spud the well once the Noble-owned rig, which has been hired to carry out these operations, arrives at the location.
Frontera and CGX disclosed a plan to spend up to $130 million on their second exploration well on the Corentyne block, following positive results from the first well, Kawa-1. Once funding for the second well was secured, the two players anticipated the spudding of the well, Wei-1, to take place in October 2022.
The JV exercised its option to use the Maersk Discoverer (now Noble Discoverer) semi-submersible rig for drilling this well. The rig originally secured a contract in April 2021 for drilling the Kawa-1 exploration well on the Corentyne block.
Furthermore, Frontera and CGX recently revised the spud window for the Wei-1 well as the Noble Discoverer rig was delayed on its current assignment with Shell in Trinidad and Tobago. In light of this, the start of drilling operations in Guyana was anticipated between December 2022 and late January 2023.
In an update, Frontera and CGX confirmed that final preparations are complete in advance of the spudding of this well, which will be located approximately 14 kilometres northwest of the Kawa-1 exploration well in the Corentyne block, approximately 200 kilometres offshore from Georgetown, Guyana.
As part of these preparations, the JV has agreed with the government of Guyana that the Wei-1 well will be spudded no later than 31 January 2023, utilising the Noble Discoverer rig, which is in keeping with the schedule provided to CGX by Noble to allow the rig to complete its current obligations in Trinidad.
Orlando Cabrales, Chief Executive Officer of Frontera, commented: “The Joint Venture remains firmly committed to drilling the Wei-1 well and we are grateful for the ongoing support from the government of Guyana as we mutually work to unlock the potentially transformational opportunity before us at Corentyne.
“Significant investment, planning and work has been completed in preparation to drill Wei-1 and we are ready to drill the well upon rig arrival in one of the most exciting exploration areas in the world.”
The Wei-1 well, targeting Maastrichtian, Campanian and Santonian stacked channels in a western channel complex in the northern section of the Corentyne block, will be drilled in a water depth of approximately 1,912 feet (583 metres) to an anticipated total depth of 20,500 feet (6,248 metres).
The 2009-built Noble Discoverer, is a DSS-21 column-stabilized dynamically positioned, sixth-generation semi-submersible drilling rig, capable of operating in water depths of up to 10,000 ft.
CGX and Frontera update on Wei-1 well
28 Nov 2022
CGX Energy and Frontera Energy, joint venture partners in the Petroleum Prospecting License for the Corentyne block offshore Guyana, announced the continued commitment to drill the Wei-1 well and final preparations are complete in advance of spudding the Wei-1 well, which follows the discovery of light oil and condensate at the Kawa-1 well earlier this year.
The Wei-1 well will be located approx. 14 kms northwest of the Kawa-1 exploration well in the Corentyne block, 200 kms offshore from Georgetown, Guyana and will be drilled in water depth of approx. 1,912 feet (583 metres) to an anticipated total depth of 20,500 feet (6,248 metres). The Wei-1 well will target Maastrichtian, Campanian and Santonian stacked channels in a western channel complex in the northern section of the Corentyne block.
As part of its preparations, the Joint Venture agreed with the Government of Guyana that the Wei-1 well will be spudded no later than January 31, 2023 utilising NobleCorp’s (formerly Maersk) NobleCorp Discoverer semi-submersible mobile drilling unit, which timeline is in keeping with the schedule provided to CGX Resources Inc. by NobleCorp so as to allow for the NobleCorp Discoverer to complete its current obligations in Trinidad.
Professor Suresh Narine, Executive Co-Chairman of CGX’s Board of Directors, commented:
‘The Joint Venture appreciates the collaborative approach taken by the Government in its stewardship of the Guyana basin’s development. The Joint Venture has been in regular communication with NobleCorp, the third-party operator, and the Government of Guyana regarding the timing of spudding the Wei-1 well. Given the delays in arrival of the NobleCorp Discover to the Wei-1 drilling location, the Joint Venture has, with support from the Government of Guyana, revised its anticipated spud window for the Wei-1 well to January 2023. The Joint Venture looks forward to building on the light oil and condensate discovery at Kawa-1 with the spudding of the Wei-1 well in the northern section of the Corentyne Block, offshore Guyana.’
Under the terms of the License for the Corentyne block, the Joint Venture was previously required to spud Wei-1, the second of two commitment wells on the block, by November 27, 2022.
Update on Berbice Deepwater Port
As part of a phased approach in support of Government efforts to accommodate increased vessel activity in Guyana, in-river construction activity has begun at the Berbice Deepwater Port (BDWP) on a 50 x 12 metre access trestle from the quayside yard westward into the Berbice river, together with the necessary dredging of the river. Construction of the wharf, perpendicular to the trestle, will follow.
The cargo terminal aspects of the BDWP are targeted to commence in mid 2023 and operation of oil and gas support base in late-2023, subject to construction schedules and supply chains.
In collaboration with the Government , CGX has shifted the immediate focus of the Port to service expected demand for aggregates and building materials to support the Government’s infrastructure development in Berbice which must be imported into the region from elsewhere in the country and offshore.
Source: CGX Energy
Trinidad and Tobago
Deepwater survey gathering data on hydrocarbons
November 25, 2022, by Nadja Skopljak
Norwegian-based Electromagnetic Geoservices (EMGS) is conducting an electromagnetic survey offshore Trinidad and Tobago to gather more information on the “first significant” seabed hydrocarbon discovery.
The survey is part of the Calypso project to develop deep-water hydrocarbon resources. Activities are scheduled to proceed until the end of December and include surveys at a depth of 2,200 meters over an area of at least 1,600km².
EMGS’ survey vessel Atlantic Guardian is in charge of the work, supported by marine services company GAC Group.
Calypso is a deepwater gas discovery located 217 kilometers off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago, close to existing LNG infrastructure and downstream petrochemical facilities. The project’s appraisal drilling program, consisting of the Bongos-3, Bongos-3X and Bongos-4 wells, concluded on 20 December 2021 during which all wells encountered hydrocarbons.
Woodside is the operator with a 70 per cent interest, with BP holding the remaining 30 per cent. As part of the Calypso project, the Ministry of Energy has opened up additional deep-water blocks, attracting new operators to line up exploring opportunities for 2023/2024.
bp starts production from Cassia C facility
Release date: 29 November 2022
bp Trinidad and Tobago LLC (bpTT) today confirms its Cassia C development has safely delivered first gas.
Cassia C is bpTT’s first offshore compression platform and its biggest offshore facility. It will enable bpTT to access and produce low pressure gas resources from the Greater Cassia Area. The platform, bpTT’s 16th offshore facility, is connected to the existing Cassia hub which lies approximately 35 miles off Trinidad’s southeast coast.
“First gas from Cassia C is an important milestone for bp in Trinidad and Tobago. This first offshore compression facility will allow us to unlock new resources and bring much-needed gas to market.”
Cassia C is expected to produce, at peak, about 200-300 million standard cubic feet a day of gas. Production will go towards meeting bpTT’s gas supply commitments and will be important to sustaining T&T’s LNG and petrochemical industries.
David Campbell, bpTT president said: “First gas from Cassia C is an important milestone for bp in Trinidad and Tobago. This first offshore compression facility will allow us to unlock new resources and bring much-needed gas to market. I am immensely proud of the teams which have been working hard to bring this facility online.”
Ewan Drummond, bp senior vice president, projects, production, and operations said: “I am proud of our achievement to deliver this project while keeping our people safe throughout a global pandemic. Cassia C is a great example of bp’s resilient hydrocarbons strategy in action – providing the energy the world needs now and helping us invest in the energy transition. I would like to thank our team for their commitment in the safe execution of this project.”
The Cassia C platform’s jacket – its legs and supporting frame – was built at TOFCO (Trinidad Offshore Fabricators) and installed in 2020. Its topside structure was built in the McDermott fabrication yard, Altamira, Mexico and was installed in 2021.
The Cassia C project is an important step in bpTT’s Area Development Plan, which outlines the direction and pace of the company’s activities to develop hydrocarbon resources in its licensed marine acreage in Trinidad and Tobago. The plan includes a combination of exploration, development projects and activities focused on maximizing production from bpTT’s acreage.
First gas from Cassia C follows the recent sanction of the Cypre development and the execution of the gas supply agreement with the National Gas Company.
bpTT operates in approximately 680,000 acres off Trinidad’s east coast. bpTT now has 16 offshore platforms and two onshore processing facilities.
Contact
bp press office, London: +44(0)7831 095541, +44(0)7919 217511, bppress@bp.com