Vaalco has completed a second sidetrack of the well and the preliminary information suggests an oil column of up to 27mt (90ft) based upon the estimated oil/water contact. Further analysis will be required to estimate the size of the discovery and to assess potential development strategies, the company said.
The drilling rig ‘Sapphire Driller’ will move to the Etame field to begin drilling a new horizontal development well, Etame 7H (ET-7H), which is designed to replace the original vertical field discovery well (ET-1V) and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2010.
The partners in the Etame Marin concession decided to drill two additional wells immediately following the four well program out of which the first well, ETBSM-2H, will be a development well in the South Tchibala field.
The second well, ETOMG-1, will be a new exploration well to test both the Gamba and Dentale reservoirs in the Omangou prospect. The prospect is located approximately two miles southeast of the Ebouri platform and approximately four miles to the northwest of the center of the Etame field.
The company’s subsidiary Vaalco Gabon Etame operates the Etame Marin Permit in which it holds a 28.07% net interest in the Etame Field. Other participants in the permit are Addax Petroleum Etame (31.36%), Sasol Petroleum Etame (27.75%), Sojitz Etame (2.98%), PetroEnergy Resources (2.34%) and Tullow Oil Gabon (7.5%).
