Petromanas to drill carbonate reservoir zone in Shpirag-2 well in Albania

Canada-based oil and gas company Petromanas Energy said it has drilled the Shpirag-2 well in Albania to a depth of about 4,800m.

Petromanas said the well is sidetracking in a lower Flysch shale zone and plans to drill the targeted carbonate reservoir zone further.

Shpirag-2 well had reached the top of the carbonate reservoir zone at a depth of about 4,750m and casing was done in late December 2012.

During drilling, the company encountered an additional layer of Flysch shale below the carbonate, which is a small, shallower carbonate imbricate structure that was not identified earlier on seismic data.

Before drilling through the lower Flysch shale, the Shpirag-2 wellbore reached a depth of about 5,200m, which is above the targeted carbonate structure.

On a recent trip into the hole, the drill string became stuck due to wellbore instability, and the well is currently sidetracking.

Once the sidetracked well reaches the targeted carbonate structure and the well reaches the total depth, the company plans to undertake log, complete and flow tests.

Petromanas CEO Glenn McNamara said the company has worked closely with the joint venture partner throughout the drilling operation and have taken a number of steps to control instability in the hole, during drilling.

"We are continuing to work to find solutions to the challenges we are facing so that we can drill this well to its planned total depth and get a complete assessment of the target carbonate reservoir," McNamara added.

Petromanas said it has received the necessary environmental permits from the Albanian Government and has completed the environmental and social impact assessment and civil engineering work for two additional potential drilling locations on blocks 2-3.

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Image: Petromanas has drilled Shpirag-2 well in Albania to a depth of about 4,800m. Photo: courtesy of ShavPS.