InterOil confirms productive reservoir in Antelope-3 well in Papua New Guinea

US-based InterOil has conducted a drill stem test in the Antelope-3 well in Papua New Guinea, which confirmed the presence of a productive reservoir with tested natural gas condensates.

InterOil said that the well flowed at a maximum rate of 44.8 million cubic feet of gas per day with a flowing tubing pressure of 2,331psi.

Initially, the well lost circulation when drilled conventionally from 5,321.8ft with cumulative down hole drilling, causing loss of 647 barrels until at 5,817ft when the circulation was lost completely.

Later, the well was drilled to the current depth of 5,905.8ft with managed pressure, where the company found the reservoir with limestone and minor dolomite.

According to InterOil, the natural gas condensates are quite similar to the limestone reservoir observed in the uppermost Antelope-2 well.

InterOil exploration general manager, David Holland, said that the company has confirmed the continuity of the highly-productive reservoir at the Antelope-3 location.

"We are encouraged by the similarities to the Antelope-2 well with extended lateral development of this upper limestone unit," added Holland.

The analysed gas composition of Antleope-3 has similarities to Antleope-1 and Antelope-2.

A casing packer set was used for drill testing the well at 5,259ft in the 9 5/8in casing and initiated the test using several choke sizes from 24/64in to 64/64in on a 584ft open hole interval, from 5,321.8ft to 5,905.8ft.

The well was observed to be flowing 10.4 to 14.9 barrels of condensate per million cubic feet through a 64/64in choke.
The gas flow during the test drill was limited by deploying the downhole DST equipment and the surface separation package.