APA Corporation and Total S.A. have advised that the Keskesi East-1 discovery well offshore of Suriname has encountered substantial pressure increases that could ultimately exceed the capabilities of the wellbore design and pressure control equipment.

Earlier this year, the Keskesi East-1 discovered oil, volatile oil and condensate in the Upper Cretaceous-aged Campanian and Santonian intervals. Subsequently, the companies continued drilling toward deeper Neocomian-aged targets. However, as a result of the pressure increases, the partners decided to conclude drilling operations at Keskesi before reaching the Neocomian targets.

Information gathered from the well will be used to design a wellbore and drilling program that will ensure a safe test of the deep Neocomian targets in future exploration and/or appraisal operations.

Additional drilling at the Keskesi East-1 well encountered hydrocarbons in the Lower Cretaceous interval and a carbonate depositional system above the top Neocomian target, which helps to validate the partners’ geologic models.

While encouraging, APA and Total said the data does not reveal specific information about the Neocomian targets themselves.

With the completion of operations at Keskesi East-1, the Noble Sam Croft drillship will be released as planned.

Pursuant to the terms of its joint venture agreement, APA transferred the operatorship of Block 58 to Total S.A. on 1 January 2021. APA holds a 50 per cent working interest in Block 58 and Total holds the remaining 50 per cent working interest.