Arktimorneftegazrazvedka discovers new field on Vietnamese shelf
MURMANSK. July 17. (Interfax) - OJSC Arktikmorneftegazrazvedka, which is part of Zarubezhneft, struck oil while drilling an exploratory well at the White Rabbit structure on the Vietnamese shelf, the company said in a statement.
"While the first object (tertiary sandstone) was being tested in the interval of 3,493-3,634 meters, a light oil inflow was received with a flow rate of 214 cubic meters per day," it said.
The second object (sandstone) was tested at an interval of 3,422-3,472 meters and turned up an inflow of oil and gas mixture. Research at this object aimed at understanding the commercial parameters and the formation fluid withdrawal rate continues, the statement said.
"The results of well testing allow us to talk of discovering another new field - White Rabbit - on the Vietnamese shelf. The White Rabbit structure was promising in terms of geological survey. It is located in the north-west of block 09-1, which also includes the White Tiger and Dragon fields being developed by Vietsovpetro," a Zarubezhneft representative said.
A source at Arktikmorneftegazrazvedka told Interfax that once the Murmanskaya jack-up rig finishes its drilling work at White Rabbit, it will be sent away for preventive maintenance at one of the nearest ports for about three months.
Exploratory drilling is being performed for Vietsovpetro, a joint venture between Zarubezhneft and PetroVietnam, under a previously signed long-term agreement.
Zarubezhneft has operations in Vietnam as part of Vietsovpetro, which has existed since 1981 and produces around a quarter of the country's oil.
Federal State Unitary Enterprise Arktikmorneftegazrazvedka and Vietsovpetro signed their first agreement in August 2009, which called for drilling three wells at the White Dragon field. White Rabbit and White Bear are located in close proximity to White Dragon.
