Oil and gas company Pantheon Resources has moved one step closer to resuming flow testing at the Alkaid #2 well. The Nordic Calista #2 rig, which was contracted for the well cleanup job, has pulled the tubing and packer and moved away from the wellhead.
Once the rig was out of the wellhead, an SLB coiled tubing unit was moved into position to begin clearing the sand block. Once done, Nordic Calista #2 will return to position to replace the production tubes before resuming long-term production testing.
The start of these operations was delayed due to bad weather and a number of electrical and hydraulic problems with the platform which have now all been resolved.
“I am pleased that we have been able to resolve several issues and successfully reach this point in the cleanup process. We have done extensive analysis, with the support of third-party experts, and have been able to learn a lot about the reservoir and the production of fluids during this pause in testing. We are less than 40 percent through frack fluid recovery (well cleaning) and I am confident that Alkaid #2 will eventually be a commercial success. Nothing we have seen so far now it diminishes our confidence in our projects,” said Jay Cheatham, CEO of Pantheon Resources.
“After a long wait to be sure, and then to sort out a number of issues on the rig, it’s great that we’re finally in a position to clear the sand blockage and resume flow testing over the next few days. All and that we are optimistic, we remind shareholders, as always, that a definitive evaluation of the well cannot be made until flow test operations have been completed,” added Bob Rosenthal, Chief Technical Officer.
Rosenthal added that the upcoming annual general meeting will be an opportunity for the company to get a clearer picture of the Alkaid #2 well. According to Rosenthal, the company intends to present the latest assessment of results and impact on its larger Theta West and Shelf Margin projects.
“In addition, we will update the progress of the proposed independent expert reports for both the Theta West and Alkaid projects and the data room for our exit process,” Rosenthal concluded.
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