On Thursday, Apache Corporation and Total S.A. announced an oil discovery at the Keskesi East-1 exploration well in Block 58 offshore of Suriname.
Keskesi East-1 encountered targets in the upper Cretaceous-aged Campanian and Santonian intervals. The shallower Campanian interval contains 58 metres of net oil, volatile oil and condensate pay and the Santonian interval contains 5 metres of net oil and volatile oil pay.
Apache outlined that fluid samples indicate API oil gravities of approximately 27 to 28 degrees in the Campanian and 35 to 37 degrees in the Santonian.
The company noted that the Keskesi East-1 well is continuing to drill to deeper Neocomian-aged targets and upon completion of operations at Keskesi East-1, the Noble Sam Croft drillship will be released as planned.
The news follows the announcements made by Apache in April and July 2020 of discoveries made at the Maka Central-1, Sapakara West-1 and Kwaskwasi-1 wells.
Apache’s Chief Executive Officer and President, John Christmann, commented that Apache is very pleased to announce its fourth consecutive discovery in Block 58 at Keskesi, which confirms oil in the eastern portion of the block.
“We are excited to commence the appraisal program on our initial discoveries and extend our Block 58 exploration program to the north in 2021,” Mr Christmann said.
Pursuant to the terms of its joint venture agreement, Apache transferred operatorship of Block 58 to Total S.A. on January 1st, 2021.
Apache will continue to operate the Keskesi exploration well until release of the Noble Sam Croft drillship.