Semliki oil eludes Heritage
Jul 17, 2005
HERITAGE Oil and Gas may move its exploration activities away from the Semliki following the disappointment of the third oil well (Turaco3) that logged carbondioxide.<br>
By Emmy Olaki
HERITAGE Oil and Gas may move its exploration activities away from the Semliki following the disappointment of the third oil well (Turaco3) that logged carbondioxide.
“The logs there were very disappointing. They fooled us. We believed we were chasing hydrocarbons, yet we were chasing an illusion.
“We got our fingers burnt, so there is a real possibility that no further drilling could go on in the Semliki,†Brian Smith, the Heritage Oil International
vice-president, said in an interview last week.
Heritage Oil discovered high concentration of carbondioxide in the oil that was discovered in the third exploration well earlier in the year. This is said to affect the commercial viability of oil.
Smith said the discovery of carbondioxide posed a significant exploration risk, and as a result, the company was trying to shift efforts to the northern part of the block, which lies under Lake Albert.
“We are acquiring data on Lake Albert. If we can find a legitimate structural trap in that area, then that could be an attractive drilling target. Semliki is looking less attractive to us because of the carbondioxide,†he said.
The company is undertaking studies to establish the exact prevalence of carbondioxide on the Semliki area. Block 3, which is licensed to Heritage Oil and partners, extends from the Semliki to the southern part of Lake Albert.
Smith said no firm decision has been made, but that if the structures on the lake are attractive, there is a possibility that they will be drilling another exploration well before the end of the year.
“We believe that this is a petroleum province, but where are the hydrocarbons. It is difficult to tell, but what we are sure of is that we should concentrate our efforts to finding hydrocarbons away from these carbonatite volcanics. We believe that the northern part is more attractive than the southern area,†he said.
Meanwhile, on block one in Pakwach, Smith said exploration work was beginning with environmental impact assessment.
The block runs through Murchison Falls National Park.
Ends
HERITAGE Oil and Gas may move its exploration activities away from the Semliki following the disappointment of the third oil well (Turaco3) that logged carbondioxide.
“The logs there were very disappointing. They fooled us. We believed we were chasing hydrocarbons, yet we were chasing an illusion.
“We got our fingers burnt, so there is a real possibility that no further drilling could go on in the Semliki,†Brian Smith, the Heritage Oil International
vice-president, said in an interview last week.
Heritage Oil discovered high concentration of carbondioxide in the oil that was discovered in the third exploration well earlier in the year. This is said to affect the commercial viability of oil.
Smith said the discovery of carbondioxide posed a significant exploration risk, and as a result, the company was trying to shift efforts to the northern part of the block, which lies under Lake Albert.
“We are acquiring data on Lake Albert. If we can find a legitimate structural trap in that area, then that could be an attractive drilling target. Semliki is looking less attractive to us because of the carbondioxide,†he said.
The company is undertaking studies to establish the exact prevalence of carbondioxide on the Semliki area. Block 3, which is licensed to Heritage Oil and partners, extends from the Semliki to the southern part of Lake Albert.
Smith said no firm decision has been made, but that if the structures on the lake are attractive, there is a possibility that they will be drilling another exploration well before the end of the year.
“We believe that this is a petroleum province, but where are the hydrocarbons. It is difficult to tell, but what we are sure of is that we should concentrate our efforts to finding hydrocarbons away from these carbonatite volcanics. We believe that the northern part is more attractive than the southern area,†he said.
Meanwhile, on block one in Pakwach, Smith said exploration work was beginning with environmental impact assessment.
The block runs through Murchison Falls National Park.
Ends