US operator Apache has discovered light oil with its Baja-1 wildcat in deep-water Block 53 offshore Suriname and is working to firm up the potential of the resource.
The US independent and partners Petronas of Malaysia and Spain’s Cepsa drilled the Baja-1 exploration well to a total depth of 5290 metres from a water depth of 1140 metres.
Light oil was encountered in the Campanian-age sedimentary sequence and post-drill evaluation is ongoing to firm up the potential of the discovered resource.
“The discovery at Baja-1 well is an important milestone for Petronas in unlocking deep-water hydrocarbon resource from our exploration ventures. We are encouraged by this achievement and will remain focused on growing our international portfolio, especially in the Americas,” Petronas exploration vice president Mohd Redhani Abdul Rahman said.
“This achievement is a testament to the combined expertise and experience of all joint-venture partners, and we look forward to more exciting milestones as we progress further,” he said.
Drillship on the move
(U) The discovery at Baja-1 is a down-dip lobe of the same depositional system as the Krabdagu discovery, 11.5 kilometres to the west in Block 58, APA noted.
After completing the Baja probe, Noble’s drillship will mobilise to APA’s Block 58 to drill the Awari exploration prospect, about 27 kilometres north of the Maka Central discovery.
APA, the holding company of Apache Energy, has a 45% operated interest in the 867,000-acre Block 53 and its co-venturers are Petronas with 30% and Cepsa on 25%.
Petronas also has a 100% operated stake in Suriname’s Block 48 and is a in 50:50 joint venture with ExxonMobil for Block 52 in the prospective Suriname-Guyana basin. The first hydrocarbon discovery in Block 52 was made in 2020.
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