Nordic Calista’s Rig-2 has begun drilling the Hickory-1 exploration well at the 88 Energy-operated Phoenix Project on Alaska’s North Slope.
Hickory-1 is designed to evaluate up to six conventional reservoir targets within the SMD, SFS, BFF and KUP reservoirs and 647 million barrels of oil, and is permitted at a total depth (TD) of up to 12,500 feet, he said 88 Energy in its statement.
According to the company, the primary targets for Hickory-1 are the 3 SMD reservoirs (SMD-C, B and A), with the SFS and BFF reservoirs considered secondary targets. The KUP reservoir is a tertiary target and will be drilled subject to weather remaining in the season, hole conditions and other technical considerations.
Hickory-1 is planned to be initially drilled to 3,500 feet, with surface casing installed and the Blow-Out Preventer (BOP) system tested. This is expected to take up to two weeks collectively, 88 Energy says.
Drilling to TD is then expected to take another two weeks, including logging while drilling (LWD), at which time wireline logging is scheduled. LWD and mud will provide initial indications of the prospectivity of the Hickory-1 targets.
The wiring program has been specifically designed to collect essential data, needed to optimize the future flow test program. This includes multiple sidewall core runs and other specialized tools to enable detailed characterization of the reservoir, the release said.
Subject to good results, 88 Energy said it plans to conduct Hickory-1 flow tests during the 2023/24 winter season. This provides sufficient time after drilling to optimize the flow test program, design, permitting and implementation, the company said.
The Phoenix project, in which 88 Energy has a 75.2 percent working interest, is on trend with Pantheon Resources’ recent discoveries in multiple recently successful play types in the top, slope and bottom sands of Mid Schrader Bluff, Canning and Seabee. formations Independent mapping has shown that these plays extend to Phoenix’s surface, 88 Energy said.
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