Petro Matad Limited ("Petro Matad" or the "Company") Operational Update
Petro Matad provides an update on its operations at the
Davsan Tolgoi Project, part of the
Company's Production Sharing Contract (PSC) on Block XX in
eastern Mongolia.
This update is summarised as follows:
• No oil was recovered during the testing of the Davsan Tolgoi 11 well (DT-11)
• The oil shows that were encountered and reported during the drilling of DT-11 are now considered to be residual oil
• Oil observed in the Tsagaantsav reservoirs in DT-1, DT-2 and DT-3, along the crest of the
Davsan Tolgoi anticline is also now interpreted as residual oil
• Four wells drilled at a lower elevation to the crest of Davsan Tolgoi, or on separate structures are still considered valid candidates for further testing and possible stimulation
• The drilling programme to date has proven the fundamentals of a petroleum system on
Block XX, and exploration works will continue
• Detailed seismic interpretation is developing new valid leads and prospects in the greater
Davsan Tolgoi area, and maturing previously identified targets
• As a result of the year's drilling and seismic programme, the resource calculations published on March 21, 2011 will be revised, with results to be announced in the coming months
• The processing and interpretation of the 2011 2D seismic programme on the six sub-basins of Block XX is continuing
DT-11 Test Results
The Company has completed the analysis of test results for
the Davsan Tolgoi 11 well (DT-11).
The DT-11 well was designed as a replacement borehole to
provide a valid production test of the primary reservoir zone
originally encountered in DT-1. DT-1 had been abandoned as
the result of problems across the primary objective at the
top of the Uppermost Tsagaantsav Formation, likely due to
incomplete cementation issues.
Three zones in the Uppermost Tsagaantsav Formation were
tested, including a primary interval at
1,076-1,084m and two secondary intervals at 1,127-1,134m and
1,100-1,103m. The two secondary objectives were tight and
produced only small amounts of water. The primary zone
produced water at an extrapolated rate of 525bbl/day, based
on a four day test with two shut-in
periods. The results are consistent with recovery of
formation water from a breached oil field that retains high
residual oil saturation.
The DT-11 well had encountered oil shows at 1,074m depth
during drilling at the top of the Uppermost Tsagaantsav
Formation, and core recovered from 1,078.6 to 1,083.4m
consisted of oil stained sandstone with hydrocarbon odour,
streaming cut and fluorescence. Initial petrophysical
analysis from this zone indicated hydrocarbon saturations
near 50%, but as reported above, subsequent test results have
revealed that the saturations represent immovable residual
oil. The oil staining and residual oil in DT-11 are
interpreted as the remnants of a former oil field that was
subsequently flushed of moveable hydrocarbons during
breaching of the structural and stratigraphic trap along the
crest of Davsan Tolgoi anticline.
The DT-11 well was located 225m south of DT-1 and 712m north of DT-2. All three wells lie within an independent structural closure along the crest of the Davsan Tolgoi anticline, and all shared the same primary objective at the top of the Uppermost Tsagaantsav. The three wells all exhibit similar petrophysical characteristics drawing us to conclude that the DT-11 test results confirm that only residual or marginally productive hydrocarbon saturations remain within this structural closure. In conjunction with results from the DT-3 well, the DT-11 test results demonstrate that a breaching event has in fact affected both structural and stratigraphic traps along the crest of the Davsan Tolgoi anticline. No further completion operations are planned for DT-1, DT-2 and DT-11. However, the 750m to 765m zone of the Upper Zuunbayan formation remains a completion candidate in DT-3.
Implications for the Greater Davsan Tolgoi Area
A diagram of the Davsan Tolgoi area showing wells and other
information is available on the
Company's website's version of this News Release.
The drilling results from Davsan Tolgoi and reprocessing of
the Davsan Tolgoi 3D contribute to a revised interpretation
for the history of hydrocarbon traps in the greater Davsan
Tolgoi area. The Davsan Tolgoi anticline is the southern part
of a 30km long feature which includes the Tolson Uul oilfield
on the adjacent Block XIX to the north, where a 1.2 billion
bbl STOIIP reserve has been announced by the operator, Petro
China subsidiary Daqing Tamtsag Mongolia.
Residual hydrocarbon saturations in cuttings, core, and logs
from DT-1, DT-2, DT-3, and DT-11 demonstrate that the Davsan
Tolgoi anticlinal crest was the focus of early oil migration
and entrapment, most likely at the same time as trapping at
the Tolson Uul fields. However the Tolson Uul fields remained
deeply buried, whereas the Davsan Tolgoi anticline was more
recently uplifted to relatively shallow depths. This uplift
was accompanied by reactivation of faults along the
anticlinal crest, allowing the trapped hydrocarbons to
escape.
The Davsan Tolgoi anticline was the obvious focal point for
regional migration within the northern part of Block XX, and
a significant portion of the 2010-2011 drilling campaigns was
designed to test the largest prospect defined along its
crest. Logistical challenges associated with Mongolia's
underdeveloped oil and gas industry precluded testing of
those wells until the second half of 2011.
Wells that have been drilled at a lower elevation to the
Davsan Tolgoi crest and on other structures at greater depths
exhibit important differences from DT-1, 2, 3 and 11. First
and most importantly, the oil remains in place, presumably
because the greater pressure at depth keeps the faults
tightly sealed so that the reservoirs are not breached and
flushed. Secondly, oils from the deeper wells are lighter,
with 32o API oil recovered from DT-8 and
42o API oil recovered from DT-4.
The down-dip wells exhibit reservoir characteristics that are
more typical of Tsagaantsav reservoirs in Tolson Uul field.
In all but a few exceptions, fracture stimulation is required
for commercial production on that field.
DT-4, DT-5, DT-7, and DT-8 are currently scheduled for
further completion, stimulation, and/or offset drilling when
field operations resume in 2012.
Reprocessing of the Davsan Tolgoi 3D has provided an
inventory of deeper prospects along the western and eastern
flanks of Davsan Tolgoi anticline where the early trap
development, current depth, and the faulting history compare
favourably to proven traps at Tolson Uul field. The improved
stratigraphic resolution of the reprocessed data has also
identified Uppermost Tsagaantsav and Lower Tsagaantsav
stratigraphic plays that are being advanced to prospect
status.
That reprocessing and interpretation is continuing and as
well as providing a revised register of leads and prospects,
will also be used to re-calculate the volumes and resources
of Davsan Tolgoi and the greater Davsan Tolgoi area.
A diagram of Block XX with technical information is available
on the Company's website's version of this News Release.
Petro Matad's 2010/2011 drilling programme was carried out
exclusively within the 133 km2 greater Davsan
Tolgoi area that was subject to a 2008 3D seismic survey, and
was concentrated on the crest of Davsan Tolgoi anticline. The
3D survey area represents 1.2% of the Block XX area. The
remainder of the 10,340km² Block contains other identified
leads and prospects from previous 2D seismic surveys in the
immediate vicinity of Davsan Tolgoi, as well as other
substantial, separate sub-basins.
Although the structural and stratigraphic trap elements of
northern Block XX are more complex than could have been
determined prior to drilling, the Davsan Tolgoi well results
have reinforced the strength of fundamental petroleum system
elements for the southern Tamtsag Basin. Many of these
elements can be extrapolated throughout Block XX, most
notably:
• Sandstone reservoir facies were encountered in Zuunbayan and Tsagaantsav intervals in all Davsan Tolgoi wells
• High-quality source rocks were encountered in all Davsan Tolgoi wells and have been extrapolated by their distinctive seismic stratigraphic character to all sub-basins within Block XX
• The average geothermal gradient measured in the Davsan Tolgoi wells is c.33C/km, suggesting that hydrocarbon generation should be going on today at depths below c.3km, with earlier hydrocarbon generation occurring at perhaps 2km depth. Relatively long-range oil migration (up to 10km) from the edge of hydrocarbon kitchens to basin margin traps is proven by oil shows in DT-1, DT-2, DT-11, and DT-3
• Light, high-quality oil was found in shallow
through moderate depth basin-margin traps in DT-1, DT-8, and
DT-4. Note - oil recovered from DT-1 was initially tested and
announced with an API of 21º, but subsequent tests have
returned values of between 25º and 30º.
Petro Matad has delineated four undrilled sub-basins within
Block XX that have sufficient depth and internal stratigraphy
to have generated and trapped significant hydrocarbon
volumes. Two more sub-basins (Tolson Uul and East Tolson)
have proven productive in Block XIX, but are undrilled in
Block XX.
Of the total of six, only the Tolson Uul and South Sharabog
basins were appreciably covered by the 3,189km 2D seismic
database acquired prior to 2011.
The Asgat, Erdenetsagaan and East Erdenetsagaan basins, which
lie wholly within Block XX were the main focus of a 1,256km
2D seismic acquisition program during the first half of 2011.
The Asgat and Erdenetsagan grabens are the site of the
current acquisition of a 4,000 station gravity survey to
extend the 6,141 station proprietary gravity survey conducted
by the Company in 2007.
The East Tolson sub-basin in Block XIX is immediately
adjacent to Block XX, and extends into an area to the east of
Davsan Tolgoi on Block XX. Additional 2D seismic surveys were
also shot over this area in 2011 and are currently being
processed and mapped.
Petro Matad is currently integrating the 2011 2D seismic
data, 2011 reprocessing of 3D seismic data with the 2011
drilling results and existing gravity and 2D seismic database
to provide the first comprehensive resource determination for
all sub basins of Block XX.
Commenting on the analysis of the results from DT-11, Petro
Matad CEO Doug McGay said "We are disappointed that the test
results from DT-11 have revealed that the crest of Davsan
Tolgoi anticline does not contain commercial oil. However it
is important to note that the focus on the prospect on the
crestal area is only one component of Davsan Tolgoi and there
is still scope for the development of other parts of the
prospect. In addition there remains advanced exploration
potential in the area around Davsan Tolgoi and the other
basins in Block XX are developing into promising plays.
"These results are viewed by the Company as part of the
systematic exploration of Block XX and whilst the crestal
area has not proved to be commercial on testing we are
encouraged by the positives arising from our broader
exploration programme.
"Both the DQE International drilling rig and the workover rig
are on standby on site, awaiting an early start to the 2012
drilling season. The Company had also identified and had
successful contract negotiations with an international
company that will supply stimulation (fraccing) services, and
whilst this programme has been placed on standby for the
current time, it is envisaged that stimulations programmes
will be run on a selection of the existing wells in 2012
following the winter stand-down.
"We look forward to advising our shareholders and the market
of the complete results of our 2011 exploration programmes,
including our revised resource base; the remapping of the
greater Davsan Tolgoi area and environs; and the conclusions
from the extensive 2D seismic programme over the many other
prospective areas of Block XX.
"In view of our recent exploration results and the successful
commercial exploitation of oil finds of similar basins in the
region we remain very positive about the prospects of success
for our on- going exploration programmes.
"Other aspects of the Company's 2011 exploration programmes
are also entering the assessments and reporting stage.
Namely, the fieldwork on Blocks IV and V is drawing to a
close after a busy year. We look forward to providing
shareholders with an update on the provisional results,
conclusions and forward work programme for those two
Blocks."
Analytical values reported in this news release were provided
by Amber LLC, a laboratory based in
Ulaanbaatar Mongolia and accredited by the Mongolian
Accreditation System.
Technical information in this news release has been reviewed
by the Company's Exploration Manager, Dr James Coogan.
Dr Coogan is a petroleum geologist with 30 years of
experience in North American and international exploration
and development. He is a member of the American Association
of Petroleum Geologists and the Geological Society of
America.
About Petro Matad Limited
Petro Matad is the parent company of a group focussed on oil
exploration, as well as future development and production in
Mongolia. The Group holds the sole operatorship of three
Production Sharing Contracts with the Government of Mongolia.
Block XX has an area of
10,340km² in the far eastern part of the country. Blocks, IV
and V are located in central Mongolia. Block IV covers
approximately 29,000km² and Block V approximately
21,150km².
Petro Matad Limited is incorporated in the Isle of Man under
company number 1483V. Its registered office is at Victory
House, Prospect Hill, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 1EQ.
Further information:
Petro Matad Limited
Douglas J. McGay - CEO
+976 11 331099
Westhouse Securities Limited
Richard Baty/Petre Norton
+44 (0)20 7601 6100