Update on Laurel Formation TGS Program
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
ASX Release
20 November 2015
Update on Laurel Formation Tight Gas Pilot Exploration Program (TGS)
ABN 71 130 651 437
Level 2, 88 William Street
Perth, Western Australia 6000
Ph: +61 8 9215 1800
Fax: +61 8 9215 1899
www.buruenergy.com
Buru Energy Limited (Buru Energy) (ASX: BRU) is pleased to provide the following update on its TGS program in the
Canning Superbasin.
Highlights
Running of production tubing completed in the Asgard and Valhalla North wells
Wells now on flowback of stimulation fluid with accompanying gas and condensate
Fluid flowback expected to take several more weeks before gas rates and condensate content can be
confirmed
Gas composition is excellent with low inerts and high condensate content
Excellent shut-in pressure confirming predicted formation deliverability
Gas flows support vertical extent of the Laurel Formation tight gas accumulation of in excess of 1,500 metres
Potential for significant resource upgrade over a large area between and surrounding the fracced wells
Background
The TGS program is a proof of concept fracture stimulation of the Laurel Formation tight gas accumulation in two
vertical wells, Asgard 1 and Valhalla North 1. The Laurel Formation is interpreted to contain a basin centered gas
accumulation with potentially world class resources of gas and hydrocarbon liquids in the Canning Superbasin of
northwest Australia.
The following TGS appraisal program objectives were defined to give confidence for proceeding to the next phase of
the systematic appraisal of the accumulation.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Demonstrate well productivity from the Laurel Formation through fracture stimulation
Achieve sustained hydrocarbon production (gas and condensate)
Obtain definitive gas composition and hydrocarbon ratios
Confirm the vertical and areal extent of the accumulation
The results to date are very encouraging with all of the objectives showing very positive results so far.
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ASX Release
TGS program
The TGS program has the following stages
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Design of the program and selection of contractors
Approvals processes
Refinement and optimisation of the program
Location and well preparation including undertaking formation integrity tests
Undertaking the stimulations and running the flowback completion strings
Initial flowback operations
Longer term Flowtest operations to confirm deliverability and decline rates
The current phase of operations is the Initial Flowback with recovery of the injected fluid from the wells.
This phase can take anywhere from weeks to months depending on the well configuration and the amount of water
injected. The amount of fluid recovered can typically range from 40% to 80% of the injected water. As the fluid flows
back it is accompanied by gas and condensate which is flared during this test phase. As the amount of fluid being
recovered decreases the gas flow increases and the flow can be directed through a separator to separate the water,
gas and condensate.
It is not possible to make estimates of flow rates that are indicative of longer term performance until the wells are
flowing stable rates of gas through the separator uninhibited by fluid. This phase of the flowback is anticipated to take
at least several more weeks.
Current operations
Initial gas recovery from both wells is of very good quality with very low levels of inerts and significant liquid
(condensate) content at or above expected levels.
Valhalla North 1
Four zones were stimulated. “Slickwater” fluid in three zones and “gel” in one zone with sand and ceramic
proppants
The zones reacted in line with predictions with good stimulation characteristics
Early cleanup rate up the 7 inch casing from two zones, before the completion was run, recovered water gas
and condensate with relatively stable three phase flow through the separator. Indicative calculations suggest a
condensate gas ratio of ~40 barrels per million cubic feet of gas. This is in excess of estimates made from data
from existing wells and regional data
Prior to completion of the well the shut in well head pressure was in excess of 3,100 psi, with significant frac
fluid in the well, demonstrating excellent reservoir support and desirable reservoir overpressure
~45% of stimulation fluid has been recovered to date
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ASX Release
Asgard 1
Seven zones stimulated with slickwater and sand proppant
Zones reacted generally as predicted
Shut in well head pressure was in excess of 2,800 psi prior to commencing flowback, with significant frac fluid
in the well, demonstrating excellent reservoir support and desirable reservoir overpressure
The well is currently in early stages of cleanup and is slugging gas and water. It is expected that separator
measurements will be achievable after more fluid is unloaded and the gas production stabilises.
~25% of stimulation fluid has been recovered to date
Data gathering
As part of the TGS program, tracers to identify the flow contribution of each zone during the Initial Flowback and
Flowtest phases were included in the treatment fluid and the proppant. Early data from this program is becoming
available and is proving extremely valuable in identifying which zones are contributing both flowback water and gas.
In addition, tracers that are visible on geophysical logs were included in the proppant. These have demonstrated
conclusively that the height of the fractures is less than 150 metres, which is generally as predicted. For context, this is
some two and a half kilometres below surface aquifers.
Microseismic measurements were also acquired during the fracs and these confirmed the tracer data.
In summary, the results of the fracs were technically extremely positive and the parameters were well within the
predicted levels.
Environmental monitoring
The fracs were conducted under stringent environmental conditions including water and air monitoring and
microseismic monitoring. No adverse environmental effects have been detected and all regulations and conditions
have been fully complied with.
Forward Program
The current flowback will be continued to allow the wells to recover a sufficient amount of injection fluid to allow
definitive gas rates, subsequent decline rates and gas and condensate compositions to be obtained.
The excellent results to date are being provided to an independent resource certifier to commence a review of
prospective and contingent resources with a view to having a report available early in 2016.
Buru Energy’s Executive Chairman, Eric Streitberg said:
“We are delighted with what we have seen from these wells to date. They are behaving as we predicted and providing
confidence we have a major gas and condensate resource in the Valhalla area. It also provides confidence that the
Laurel accumulation has commercial potential over a large part of the Canning Superbasin as we had expected. It also
will give us fresh insights into the results from the 2010 Yulleroo 2 fracs which also flowed gas and condensate at
significant rates.
We will continue with the flowback program as planned and keep shareholders informed as results come to hand.”
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ASX Release
Visit www.buruenergy.com for information on Buru Energy’s current and future activities.
For investor inquiries please contact Buru Energy:
Telephone:
+61 8 9215 1800
Freecall:
1800 337 330
Email:
info@buruenergy.com
Media Enquiries:
Paul Armstrong
Read Corporate
+61 8 9388 1474/ 0421 619 084
About Buru Energy
Buru Energy Limited (ASX: BRU) is a Western Australian oil and gas exploration and production company
headquartered in Perth with an operational office in Broome. The Company’s petroleum assets and tenements are
located onshore in the Canning Basin in the southwest Kimberley region of Western Australia. Its flagship high quality
conventional Ungani Oilfield project is owned in 50/50 joint venture with Diamond Resources (Fitzroy) Pty Ltd. As well
as Ungani, the Company’s portfolio includes potentially world class tight gas resources.
The company’s goal is to deliver material benefits to its shareholders, the State of Western Australia, the Traditional
Owners of the areas in which it operates, and the Kimberley community, by successfully exploring for and developing
the petroleum resources of the Canning Basin in an environmentally and culturally sensitive manner.
Competent Persons Statement
Information in this release related to exploration and production results and petroleum resources is based on
information compiled by Eric Streitberg who is an employee of Buru Energy Limited. Mr Streitberg is a Fellow of the
Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a member and
Certified Petroleum Geologist of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. He has over 40 years of relevant
experience. Mr Streitberg consents to the inclusion of the information in this document.
Buru Energy general operations location map
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