Ophir Spuds Offshore **onWednesday, February 19, 2014Ophir...

Ophir Spuds Offshore Gabon

Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Ophir Energy has spud a new well in West Africa, the Padouck Deep-1 well. The well is located offshore Gabon on the Ntsina Block and was drilled using the Vantage Titanium Explorer drillship.

Padouck Deep-1 is the first well targeting the pre-salt play offshore in the North Gabon basin although the play is regionally extensive elsewhere in Gabon and West Africa. The prospect is estimated to contain Pmean recoverable resources of around one billion barrels with significant follow-on potential. The well is located in a water depth of approximately 835 meters and has a planned total depth of 3,500 meters true vertical depth.
Operations are expected to take about 45 days. Ophir’s share of the well cost is largely carried by partners Petrobras and OMV.
Nick Cooper, Ophir’s CEO commented, “The Padouck Deep-1 well is the first of three potentially transformational wells being drilled back to back by Ophir in Gabon targeting substantial oil resources. Padouck Deep is one of two pre-salt wells that will be drilled in the current campaign where the total play potential is estimated at c.4.0bnbbls from currently defined leads and prospects.”


From the PVD site, Ophir's block is to the north west of PVD's