APA reports positive results from Sockeye-2 flow test in Alaska

APA and its partners, Armstrong affiliate Lagniappe Alaska and Santos subsidiary Oil Search, announced on April 24 the results of flow testing of the Sockeye-2 exploratory well on Alaska’s North Slope.

As previously reported, the Sockeye-2 well was drilled to a depth of around 10,500 feet (3,200 metres) and encountered a Paleocene-aged clastic reservoir, described as high quality, with an average porosity of 20%. In the latest announcement, APA said the vertical Sockeye-2 well was completed in a single 25-foot (8-metre) interval at roughly 9,200 feet (2,804 metres) total vertical depth, without stimulation.

The company went on to say that the well had performed in line with expectations during the 12-day production test, averaging 2,700 barrels per day (bpd) of oil during the final flow period, without artificial lift.

“The results of the flow test indicate significantly higher reservoir quality compared to similar topset discoveries to the west,” the announcement said. “Further appraisal drilling will determine the ultimate size of the discovery, but the flow test demonstrates the exceptional productivity of this shallow-marine reservoir.”

APA’s CEO, John Christmann, said the results from the Sockeye-2 flow test were in line with the company’s expectations, “demonstrating high-quality reservoir, confirming our geologic and geophysical models and derisking additional prospectivity in the block”. The partners will now evaluate data from the well to determine the next steps for their Alaska programme.

Armstrong Oil & Gas’ CEO, Bill Armstrong, said the discovery “significantly” extends the Brookian topset play first established with the company’s Pikka discovery in 2013.

“We have identified analogous anomalies to investigate following on this success,” Armstrong added.

The results of the flow test come as exploration momentum appears to be picking up in Alaska. Also on the North Slope, Pantheon Resources is flow testing its Megrez-1 discovery. That flow testing programme consists of six test intervals, the first of which has been completed. More results from the other intervals are expected over the coming weeks.