If the hole is stable they can run logging tools over the reservoir section which gives them some hard data on nature of eservoir and what's present. If they like what the see they can then allow the well to flow and monitor flowrates at the rig (they flare off any gas/oil at this stage). If flows are good they then either plug & abandon the well (P&A) or case and suspend it as a future producer. If the hole is not in good condition, caving in, etc, they can case the hole before running logs. They then have to perforate the casing to do a flowtest.
Note that although they might get an excellent result they might still choose to plug the hole. Or they might decide to do a side-track down-dip to find a water contact, then P&A. They would do this if they decided the discovery well is not located in the best position to drain any accumulation. They would then take a few months to do a ton of technical work on how to commercialise the discovery.
Lots of possibilities, and also grossly oversimplified. There are a zillion operational details I've glossed over.
PS: I think they plug a well by removing the drilling mud and replacing it with a cement mix to several hundred m's which can later be drilled out if they decide to re-enter it. Don't know if they cement the entire hole back to surface but others here know a lot more about this than I do! Ya is pretty good, and some of the other KAR guys are too.
MOG Price at posting:
21.5¢ Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held
