26 Sep 2011 07:01
For Immediate Release
26 September 2011
3Legs Resources plc
Operations on Lebien LE-2H horizontal well
Operations on Warblino LE-1H horizontal well
3Legs Resources plc (the "Company"), a company focussed on the exploration and development of unconventional oil and gas resources with a particular focus on shale gas in Europe,announces the following operational update.
Key points
·; Lebien LE-2H
o The initial testing phase is now concluded
o The well achieved its objectives of a sustained gas production rate and data gathering to advance the Company's understanding of the reservoir
o Natural gas flowed with the aid of nitrogen lift at an initial unstabilised rate of 2,200 mscf/d on 8 September, declining to 500 mscf/d on 13 September.
o A tubing string was added on 17 September and the well continued to flow with the aid of a nitrogen lift to recover frac water, with natural gas recommencing flow at an initial rate of approximately 380 mscf/d
o The well has continued to flow with the aid of the nitrogen lift at a net natural gas rate of approximately 450-520 mscf/d up to 25 September
o The well is now in the process of being shut in pending further analysis
o Depending on the results of further analysis the well may be further flow tested
·; Warblino LE-1H
o Vertical pilot well drilled to TD of 3,222 metres with extensive coring and logging programmes
o In addition to the intervals completed at Lebien LE-1 and Lebien LE-2H, this well encountered a separate deeper interval
o The well was sidetracked to drill a horizontal borehole in this deeper interval
o After drilling a 1,246 metre horizontal lateral of shale with strong gas shows, and just prior to reaching planned total depth, the well encountered hole stability issues
o A sidetrack was then initiated to redrill the same section
o The new lateral was drilled to 3,844 metres (measured depth) with a 500 metre horizontal section. This was a shorter horizontal section than originally planned so as to reduce the risk of encountering hole problems
o Well will shortly be made ready for well stimulation programme and test in due course
Lebien LE-2H horizontal well
Following its announcement on 8 September 2011 regarding the commencement of testing of the Lebien LE-2H horizontal well, the initial testing phase on this well is now concluded. The hydraulic fracture programme was successfully executed as planned. The well started to flow natural gas at an initial unstabilised rate of 2,200 mscf/d on 8 September with the aid of a coil tubing unit and nitrogen lift. On 17 September the well was completed with a tubing string to allow testing for a longer duration. The well continued to produce frac water back with the aid of a nitrogen lift and at the same time commenced flowing natural gas at an initial rate of approximately 380 mscf/d.
Since then the well has continued to dewater with the aid of the nitrogen lift and the natural gas flow rate has been between 450 and 520 mscf/d as at 25 September. As at 25 September, 15% of the frac fluid had been recovered. The well is now in the process of being shut in pending further analysis, with the option to conduct additional production testing at a later date using lower cost solutions.
The well had two key objectives: firstly, to achieve a sustained gas production rate, and secondly to gather critical data for drilling and stimulation design for future wells. The Company is very pleased that the well has achieved both of these objectives.
The entire frac and test programme in this well was accomplished without HSE incidents.
Warblino LE-1H horizontal well
Drilling is progressing on the Warblino LE-1H horizontal well, which is at a location approximately 25 km to the west of the Company's Lebien LE-2H well.
The Warblino LE-1H well was drilled initially as a vertical pilot well to a total vertical depth of approximately 3,222 metres. Some 134 metres of wireline core and a further 50 sidewall cores were taken over 75 metres of additional interval. An extensive set of logs was also run.
Preliminary analysis of the logs and extensive other data indicates that a prospective deeper interval has been identified.
Following drilling of the vertical wellbore, the well was plugged back as planned and a horizontal section of approximately 1,246 metres was drilled in this deeper interval, staying within the upper 5 metres of the formation for virtually the entire length of the lateral. Gas shows were encountered throughout this interval. Just prior to reaching the planned lateral length, the well encountered hole stability issues, and it was decided to redrill this lateral. The new lateral was drilled to 3,844 metres measured depth with a 500 metre horizontal section. This was a shorter horizontal section than planned so as to reduce the risk of encountering hole further stability issues.
The well will shortly be made ready for an extensive well stimulation programme, following which the well will be put on test, scheduled for later this year.
Peter Clutterbuck, Chief Executive of 3Legs Resources, said:
"We are delighted to have successfully executed the multi-stage hydraulic fracture stimulation along the lateral section of the Lebien LE-2H well and achieved encouraging natural gas flow-rates. Our interpretation of logs conducted after the frac operation indicates that the frac propagated to a portion of the reservoir in each of the 13 stages, but not to all of the reservoir. We will be reviewing frac designs with the intention of improving frac performance on future wells. This well has provided us with invaluable information do to this and to improve reservoir deliverability.
Our objectives with this well were to achieve a sustained gas production rate, and to gather data to further understand the reservoir. We are very pleased to have achieved both these objectives on our first attempt.
We are encouraged by the characteristics of the new shale interval we have encountered in the Warblino LE-1H horizontal well and believe this represents a promising additional target in the basin. We look forward to the test results of this well programme, scheduled for later this year. This deeper horizon, while always a key objective of the programme, was not included in the Competent Persons Report prior to IPO as it had not been penetrated in either of our two wells drilled prior to that date."
For further information contact:
3Legs Resources plc | Tel: | +44 1624 811 611 |
Peter Clutterbuck, Chief Executive Officer | ||
Alexander Fraser, Chief Financial Officer | ||
Jefferies International Limited | Tel: | +44 207 029 8000 |
Chris Snoxall | ||
Alex Grant | ||
| ||
College Hill | Tel: | +44 207 457 2020 |
Nick Elwes | ||
Catherine Maitland |
Notes to Editors
3Legs Resources was established in early 2007 to focus on the exploration and development of unconventional oil and gas resources, with a particular focus on shale gas in Europe. A first mover in Poland, 3Legs Resources has acquired six licences covering approximately 1,084,000 acres (gross) in the onshore Baltic Basin, a region considered to be one of the most promising shale basins in Europe. The Company's primary targets in the Baltic Basin are the organic-rich black shales of the Lower Palaeozoic section. In addition to these assets, the Company holds onshore exploration licences over acreage near Krakow in southern Poland and in Baden-Württemberg in south-west Germany.
The technical information and opinions contained in this announcement have been reviewed by Peter Clutterbuck (MA Honours in Engineering, Cambridge University and former Member of the Board of the Society of Petroleum Engineers in London), Chief Executive Officer of 3Legs Resources plc, who has over 35 years of experience in the oil exploration and production industry. He has consented to the inclusion herein of such technical information and opinions.
www.3legsresources.com