Theo 3-H was drilled in 1,205 ft of water to a MD of 10,598 ft. It cut a 4,554-ft-long horizontal section in the Cretaceous Top Barrow formation.
The well flowed 9,694 b/d of oil on test. Its flow rate was restricted by downhole and surface equipment limitations, Apache said.
The company plans to drill 18 additional long-reach horizontal laterals at Van Gogh later this year, with a target of first production by the end of first quarter 2009. At that time, the field is expected to add 20,000 b/d of oil to the company"s net production.
The $500 million Van Gogh development will use a floating production, storage, and offloading vessel with a processing capacity of 63,000 b/d and storage capacity of 620,000 bbl. Apache operates the development and owns 52.5% interest in the project, while Tokyo-based Inpex Corp. owns 47.5%.
"The Van Gogh development is one of six projects in Apache"s core growth areas of Australia, Canada, and Egypt that are projected to add aggregate production of 108,000 boe/d over the next 4 years," said Apaches Pres. and Chief Executive G. Steven Farris.
Other projects
The Pyrenees development, in which Apache holds 28.57% interest, is expected to add 20,000 b/d of oil to the company"s net production as well during 2009. It is anticipated that this field, operated by BHP Billiton Ltd. (71.43%), will receive the formal go-ahead by the end of this month.
Apache currently is drilling the Julimar East-1 appraisal well 3.6 miles northeast of the Julimar-1 gas discovery, which flowed at a combined rate of 85 MMcfd on tests of two Triassic channel sands. Julimar East-1 will appraise the channels tested in the discovery well and will target additional deeper Triassic sands.
"Julimar is one of the 10 high-potential prospects and plays on the "hit parade" of our 2007 exploration program in Apache"s core growth areas," Farris said.
Apache holds interests in 11.9 million acres off
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