Salamander Energy’s Bualuang oil field in Gulf of Thailand begins production

UK-based Salamander Energy said the first four wells of the sixteen-well development drilling programme have commenced production at the Bualuang oil field in the Gulf of Thailand.

Salamander added that the wells have been drilled from the Bravo platform by using the Atwood Mako rig and are producing ahead of pre-drill expectations.

The four wells which are drilled horizontally into the T4 Miocene sandstone reservoir include BB-01H, BB-04H, BB-06H and BB-10H.

The wells encountered between 495m to 530m of pay and include reservoir properties of 27% and 33% porosities, and 85% and 99% net to gross ratios.

The wells are completed by using standalone screens and electric submersible pumps, while average time for drilling, completion and production handover to each well has taken 21 days.

Bualuang field has produced at an average of 10,531 barrels of oil per day, while average daily production was 7,200 barrels of oil per day in 2012.

The full year production in 2013 is expected to be between 11,000 and 14,000 barrels of oil per day, which is about a 50% increase in production year on year.

The company plans to drill and complete another five wells in the East Terrace, with an aim to bring them on stream in less than two years from discovery.

It also plans to slant drill two of the main field wells into the T2 and T5 reservoirs, to estimate the potential of unexploited reservoirs and to add additional reserves to the field.

Salamander has a two year contract with the Atwood Mako rig, until September 2014.

The processing and utility modules, which are used in the Bualuang Bravo platform, have been designed and fabricated by Thai Nippon Steel at its yard in Bangpakong, Thailand.

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Image: Salamander Energy has completed drilling of four wells at the Bualuang oil field. Photo: Courtesy of ShavPS.