Workover drill rig installed on Maari platform

Sources: Horizon Oil and Lindsay Clark

Maari partner Horizon Oil said in its December quarter report that the workover unit was erected on a structure built over the platform’s well bay.

The field was shut in for 20 days in January for a planned inspection and maintenance of the FPSO Raroa.

During this shut-in period, the opportunity was taken to carry out the heavy lifts over the wellbay to install the workover unit.

One repair able to be done with the workover rig in place will be fixing of the downhole pump in the MR5 production well into the main Moki sands reservoir.

Hook-up of the MR9 well into the M2A sands reservoir, some 50 m above the main reservoir, has been completed and the well is ready to come on line, Horizon said.

Meanwhile Horizon said that in the large PEP 51313 to the immediate south and west of Maari, a 200 sq km 3D seismic survey will be undertaken in the second quarter of 2010 by the Reflect Bergen Resolution vessel.   

Horizon holds a 30% stake in the permit, which is operated by Todd Energy (50%). Cue Energy Resources hold the remaining 20%.

The survey will be over the Matariki prospect area to the south of Maari. With the existing 3D seismic data over Maari, which also gives coverage of the Pike and Paua prospects in PEP 51313, a continuous 3D coverage will be available over the key prospects in the southern area of the permit.

At the completion of the 3D seismic survey two further swath lines totalling 80 km in length may be acquired to provide advance coverage on critical elements of the Te Whatu and Pukeko prospects to the west of Maari ahead of another seismic survey over the Te Whatu area.

Horizon said recent technical work has reinforced the company’s previously held views on the high level of prospectivity of the permit.

Related links

Maari - Petroleum block offers - 08-09 Annual report