Cooper Energy has announced that Sole-4, the second of two production wells for the Sole Gas Project (offshore of Victoria) is being shut-in for future connection after successful clean-up and flow-back operations.
Drilling, sandscreen installation and gravel packing was finalised on the project during mid-to-late July. A flow-back test on a near-horizontal 112-metre section has also been completed on the Top Latrobe Group sandstone reservoir.
The test found that the flow rate was at a maximum measured rate of 60 Million standard cubic feet per day (MMscf/d). During the 11-hour main flow period, the flow rate averaged approximately 54 MMscf/d. Preliminary technical analysis indicated that Sole-4 can produce at or near the onshore plant capacity of 68 terajoules (TJ) per day. The gas composition at Sole-4 is in line with expectation and consistent with measurements from both Sole-3 and the earlier Sole-2 appraisal well.
Cooper Energy’s Managing Director, David Maxwell, said the testing of Sole-4 concludes a successful drilling program for the Sole Gas Project.
“Both Sole-3 and Sole-4 have delivered on design and confirmed our assessment of the excellent deliverability of the Sole reservoir. We now have two wells, ready to go, that have shown capability for higher production rates than design should the plant throughput enable this,” he announced.
“Having now completed the workstream which carried the greatest financial exposure, the project remains within schedule and within budget. As the remaining workstreams are based on fixed price lump sum contracts, this position has further reinforced our confidence in project completion within the forecast budget of $355 million,” Mr Maxwell said.
An announcement has also been made that Sole-4 is to be suspended prior to pipeline connection, with pipeline welding set to advance with 47 km of the 65 km total length having been welded into 1.5 km stalks. It is forecast that the pipelay operation to connect the Sole gas field with the Orbost Gas Processing Plant will commence in October 2018.
More information on this project can be accessed here.
