Empyrean Energy 'Extremely Disappointed' as No Oil Found at 'World-class' Jade Offshore Prospect in China

Bartolomej Tomic
Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Oil and gas company Empyrean Energy said Wednesday that its Jade offshore well in China, for which the company had high hopes, had reached total depth without encountering hydrocarbons.

After years of preparations, the company started drilling at what it said was a "world-class“ Jade prospect earlier this month, using COSL's NH-9 semi-submersible drilling rig.

Empyrean had said that the Jade Prospect had a GCA audited mean in place potential of 225 MMbbl and a P10 in place upside of 395 MMbbl.

However, the company on Wednesday said the well had reached a final total depth of 2849 meters measured depth at 6:00 am Wednesday morning local time, with no oil pay encountered in the target reservoir.

"Current operations are the running of wireline logs. The wireline logs are not expected to change the initial interpretation of no oil pay seen on LWD. Current operations Wireline logging tools will now be run following a wiper trip before commencing demobilization operations of the NH 9 rig,“ Empyrean said.

NH9 (Nanhai 9) is a semi-submersible drilling rig that entered service in 1988. It is capable of drilling in a water depth of up to 5300 feet (1615 meters).

Empyrean CEO, Tom Kelly, said: “We are extremely disappointed with the results of the well, particularly after conducting a systematic and comprehensive technical analysis followed by running a safe drilling operation. We would like to thank CNOOC for all their support, CNOOC EnerTech for managing a successful operation, and COSL for conducting a safe drilling operation. We plan to conduct a thorough analysis of well log data before deciding the next step in Block 29/11."

Empyrean is the operator of Block 29/11 in which the well was drilling, with a 100% stake. China's CNOOC had an option to assume a 51% participating interest in the development and production phase in case of a hydrocarbon discovery in the block.

Empyrean had said previously that, after any potential success at the Jade prospect, it would like to drill the larger Topaz prospect. The Topaz prospect has GCA audited mean in place potential of 434 MMbbl and a P10 in place upside of 891 MMbbl. It is not clear if this is still the plan, given that Jade failed to encounter any oil.



Categories: Energy Drilling Industry News Activity Asia South China Sea Drilling Rigs

Related Stories

BP, ONGC, Reliance Industries Ink Deal for Offshore Exploration in India

CNOOC Brings New Offshore Gas Field On Stream

Sapura Scoops Over $118M for Chevron, PTTEP Subsea Ops off Thailand

China Starts Production at Major Oil Field in Bohai Sea

Valeura Makes Progress with Multi-Well Drilling Campaign in Gulf of Thailand

BP Expands Oil and Gas Scope in Azerbaijan with New Projects and Exploration Rights

TPAO, SOCAR and BP to Ink Caspian Sea Oil and Gas Production Deal

Velesto’s Jack-Up Rig Up for Drilling Job Offshore Vietnam

Eneos Scoops Jack-Up Drilling Contract Offshore Vietnam

CNOOC Makes Major Oil and Gas Discovery in South China Sea

Current News

Sapura Energy Rebrands to Vantris Energy

BP, ONGC, Reliance Industries Ink Deal for Offshore Exploration in India

Allseas-Boskalis Consortium Bags $1.4B Offshore Gas Pipeline Job in Taiwan

CNOOC Brings New Offshore Gas Field On Stream

Yinson, PTSC Get $600M Contract for Vietnam-Bound FSO

PTTEP Buys Chevron's Hess Unit Share of Southeast Asia’s Offshore Block for $450M

Valeura Energy, PTTEP Partner Up on Gulf of Thailand Blocks

Sapura Scoops Over $118M for Chevron, PTTEP Subsea Ops off Thailand

Pandion Energy Divests Interests in Three Norwegian Assets to Inpex

China Starts Production at Major Oil Field in Bohai Sea

Subscribe for AOG Digital E‑News

AOG Digital E-News is the subsea industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email three times per week

https://accounts.newwavemedia.com