25 February 2013 – Eni SpA confirmed the potential of the Mamba complex offshore Mozambique with a significant new natural gas discovery.
The Coral 3 delineation well, the eighth well drilled back to back in Area 4, confirmed that Area 4 operated by Eni has 75 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas in place, of which 27 Tcf is exclusively located in Area 4, the company reported Monday.
Drilled in 6,676 feet (2,035 meters) of water with the Saipem 10000 (UDW drillship), Coral 3 encountered 383 feet (117 meters) of natural gas pay in a high quality Eocene reservoir and adds at least 4 Tcf of natural gas in place in Area 4. The well reached a total depth of 17,290 feet (5,270 meters).
“The well proves the existence of hydraulic communication with the same reservoir of Coral 1 and 2 and confirms the giant size of the Coral discovery that is now estimated to contain 13 Tcf plus of gas in place wholly located in Area 4,” Eni said in a statement. “Coral wells deliverabilities showed during the production tests are excellent and each well is expected to deliver very high flow rates in production configuration.”
Coral 3 is located approximately 3.1 miles (5 kilometers) south of the Coral 1 well, 9.3 miles (15 kilometers) of Coral 2 and approximately 40 miles (65 kilometers) offshore the Cabo Delgado coast.
The company plans to drill another delineation well, Mamba South 3, with the Saipem 10000 to assess the full potential of the Mamba complex discoveries. Eni will then resume exploration drilling in the southern part of Area 4.
Eni is operator of Area 4 with 70 percent interest. Partners include Galp Energia with 10 percent, KOGAS with 10 percent and ENH with 10 percent.
In December of last year, Eni reported it had received a big boost to gas-in-place estimates with the results of the Mamba South 2 and Coral 2 appraisal wells.
*Karen Boman, Rigzone
