Yemisi Izuora
Eland Oil & Gas PLC has declared that production performance from the Opuama-8 and Opuama-9 wells in licence OML 40 field, in Nigeria, is strong with oil and gas gross production from all four of its wells on the Opuama field was about 22,000 barrels of oil per day.
The Opuama-8 well, in licence OML 40, recorded initial gross production of over 6,200 bopd on a 40/65 inch choke, in the upper half of Eland’s previously expected production range.
Eland said that testing and production of three reservoirs penetrated by the Opuama-8 well is continuing, with rest rates both within expectations and encouraging. The deepest reservoir, D5000, flowed at 3,250 bopd on a 40/64 inch choke with a flowing tubing head pressure of 50 bar – 725 pounds per square inch.
The shallowest reservoir tested, D3500, flowed at 2,980 bopd on a 40/64 inch choke with a flowing tube head pressure of 47 bar – 680 psi. Testing of the third reservoir, D4000, will commence shortly, Eland said.
The company noted that the drilling of the Opuama-9 infill well continues, though there have been some delays due to mechanical issues with the rig. The completion of the Opuama-9 well is expected within the first quarter, whereupon production can begin.
George Maxwell, CEO of Eland, commented:
“We are delighted to announce a further significant increase in Opuama production from the successful completion and test of the Opuama-8 infill well. Adding the incremental flow rates from this highly productive well has once again pushed Opuama field to the highest recorded levels in its history.
Our focus on the Opuama-9 infill well and the near-term work programme continues and I look forward positively to updating the market further as Elcrest, together with our partner NPDC, achieve more success on the OML 40 license which is becoming one of the largest producing assets of any E&P company on AIM.”