Kea to Spud Wingrove-2 in April

Kea Petroleum will drill the Wingrove-2 well in the Taranaki basin in New Zealand in April 2010.

Wingrove-2 will be a deviated well, designed to test the updip potential of the good oil shows seen in the basal Mount Messenger Sands, and the oil pay encountered in shallower sands of Wingrove-1.

The previously drilled Wingrove-1 had flow-tested waxy oil at 50bpd.

Kea plans to use new technology to enhance productivity of the waxy oil if encountered again at the new well.

Preparation for the spudding is complete, including pre-collaring and surfacing casing installation, and the drill is expected to begin after the Ensign Rig 19 arrives from Shell’s Kapuni field.

The drilling is expected to take 15 days, while Kea plans commercial oil production within six months of a successful discovery.