Apache Corporation and Total S.A. have announced a significant oil discovery at the Sapakara West-1 well drilled on Block 58, offshore Suriname at the northeastern coast of South America. Apache is the operator, holding a 50 per cent working interest and Total holds a 50 per cent working interest.

Sapakara West-1 was drilled to a depth of approximately 6,300 metres, and successfully tested for the presence of hydrocarbons in multiple stacked targets in the upper Cretaceous-aged Campanian and Santonian intervals.

Preliminary fluid samples and test results indicate at least 79 metres of net oil and gas condensate pay in two intervals. The shallower Campanian interval contains 13 metres of net gas condensate and 30 metres of net oil pay, with API oil gravities between 35 and 40 degrees. The deeper Santonian interval contains 36 metres of net oil-bearing reservoir with API oil gravities between 40 and 45 degrees.

John J. Christmann, Apache CEO and President said their second discovery offshore Suriname this year further proves their geologic model and confirms a large hydrocarbon system in two play types on Block 58.

“Based on a conservative estimate of net pay across multiple fan systems, we have discovered another very substantial oil resource with the Sapakara West-1 well,” he said. “Importantly, our data indicates that the Sapakara West-1 well encountered a distinct fan system that is separate from the Maka Central-1 discovery we announced in January this year.”

Block 58 comprises 1.4 million acres and offers significant potential beyond the discoveries at Sapakara West and Maka Central. Apache has identified at least seven distinct play types and more than 50 prospects within the thermally mature play fairway.

Upon completion of operations at Sapakara West-1, the drill will move to the third prospect in Block 58, Kwaskwasi, which is located approximately 10 kilometres northwest of Sapakara West-1. The fourth exploration target is Keskesi, which will be drilled approximately 20 kilometres southeast of Sapakara West-1. Both exploration wells will test oil-prone upper Cretaceous targets in the Campanian and Santonian intervals in reservoirs that appear to be independent from the Maka and Sapakara discoveries.