First take from Antelope-3

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First take from Antelope-3

Wednesday, 12 December 2012 INTEROIL’s first drill stem test of its Antelope-3 appraisal well in Papua New Guinea yielded a maximum flow rate of 44.8 million cubic feet of gas per day and 10.4 to 14.9 barrels of condensate per mcf. InterOil's Antelope-3 well in PNG. The first DST at Antelope-3. Image courtesy of InterOil. Undertaken between depths of 1622m to 1800m, InterOil said the reservoir was comprised of limestone and minor dolomite similar to the upper limestone reservoir of Antelope-2 – a well that flowed 705MMcfpd and 11,200bpd condensate in late 2009. However, Antelope-3 faced challenges with 647 barrels of drilling fluid losses between depths of 1622m and 1773m. At this depth there was a total loss of circulation with further drilling undertaken with managed pressure to its current depth of 1800m. On the results, InterOil said the test was conducted through drill pipe and the gas flow rate was significantly limited by the downhole DST equipment and the surface separation package. “InterOil is pleased to have encountered the reservoir higher than anticipated and to confirm continuity of highly productive reservoir at the Antelope-3 location,” InterOil exploration general manager David Holland said. “We are encouraged by the similarities to the Antelope-2 well with extended lateral development of this upper limestone unit.” InterOil has previously said it would drill through to the total planned depth of 2550m after the first DST.