Cobalt International Energy has made two discoveries at its Lontra #1 and Mavinga #1 deepwater Pre-salt exploratory wells offshore Angola.
On Block 20, the Lontra #1 well confirmed an oil and gas discovery. Further evaluation, including a drill stem test, will be carried out to assess Lontra’s potential.
On Block 21, Cobalt has made the Mavinga #1 Pre-salt oil discovery. Mavinga #1 is about 12.km northwest of Cobalt’s 2012 Cameia discovery. The well found about 100ft of net oil pay.
Efforts to establish a sustained flow rate from a full drill stem test were not successful. Cobalt is in the early stages of determining what operational issues may have prevented the production from the oil reservoir during the drill stem test.
The Mavinga discovery is expected to be tied-back to and become part of the planned Cameia development complex in Block 21.
Following operations at Mavinga #1, Cobalt mobilized the Ocean Confidence (pictured) drilling rig to drill Bicuar #1A, a Pre-salt exploratory well south of Cameia and Mavinga on Block 21. Cobalt’s partners in Block 21 include Sonangol Pesquisa e Produção, S.A., Nazaki Oil and Gaz, and Alper Limitada.
On completion of testing operations at Lontra, Cobalt plans to mobilize the Petroserv SSV Catarina drilling rig to the Orca #1 Pre-salt exploratory well (formerly the Baleia prospect), about 25km northeast of Lontra in Block 20. Cobalt’s partners in Block 20 include Sonangol Pesquisa e Produção, S.A. and BP Exploration Angola (Kwanza Benguela) Limited.
Image: Diamond Drilling's Ocean Confidence ultra-deepwater drilling unit.
