Swedish upstream energy firm Tethys Oil plans to drill its first exploration well in Block 58, a wholly-owned and operated concession in south Oman, with the goal of targeting promising hydrocarbon deposits in the Fahd area of the acreage.
Drilling is envisioned in the third quarter of 2023 at a location that will be decided upon the completion of analysis of multiple prospects uncovered in the Block, the company said.
Prospect maturation studies carried out in the Fahd area of the Block in Q4 2022 have led to the identification of three prospects holding a combined estimated unrisked prospective resource potential of 184 million barrels of oil (mmbo) distributed across the Buah, Khufai and Ara formations, according to the company.
“Based on further analysis of the finalised prospect inventory, the location for the first exploration well on the Block will be selected, with drilling planned for the third quarter 2023,” publicly listed Tethys Oil stated in its year-end report for 2022.
Block 58, covering an area of 4,557 km2, straddles the western flank of the South Oman Salt Basin, a prolific source of hydrocarbons. Tethys Oil Qatbeet Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tethys Oil, is the operator of the block with a 100 per cent interest.
Also in the company’s sights is the South Lahan area of the block where interpretation of 3D seismic is currently underway. “The interpretation is expected to yield drillable prospects by the end of the first quarter of 2023. The South Lahan area contains several leads based on proven plays that are in production in the surrounding area,” the company stated.
In the adjoining Block 49, a sprawling 15,439 km2 concession also operated by Tethys Oil, the company is planning to have another shot at a formation that initially revealed a 30-metre thick hydrocarbon bearing zone in Q1 2021. However, when the well was tested, no hydrocarbons flowed to the surface.
Tethys Oil is now preparing to re-enter and retest the Thameem-1 well, this time around with fracking tools to stimulate the reservoir. The company explained: “Plans are for the well to be re-entered and re-tested late in the second quarter and at this time a hydraulic fracture operation will be carried out. Ongoing preparations focus on the hydraulic fracture design, procurement and site preparation. Successfully flowing hydrocarbons to surface through this operation would turn the inconclusive Thameen-1 well into a discovery and thus determine the company’s further course of action in relation to a second exploration phase.”
Further east is Block 56, which is 65 per cent owned but wholly operated by Tethys Oil. In 2023, Tethys Oil plans to press ahead with its extended well test of the Al Jumd discovery, once a metering system is in place. It will allow for production from Al Jumd to be metered and exported into the national pipeline grid. Around 4,000 barrels of oil produced during the testing phase are currently stored in tanks at Al Jumd, awaiting transportation by trucks once the metering facility is commissioned.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
