Empire Energy has announced that the Carpentaria-2H well in the Beetaloo Basin has continued to deliver strong flow rates with the added bonus of low CO₂ composition.
In an update to the ASX the Sydney-based junior explorer said an average production rate over the first 30 days of testing at Carpentaria-2H had yielded 2.4 million standard cubic feet (mmscf) per day, equating to 2.6 mmscf per day per 1,000 metres of horizontal section
In addition to this, gas composition data had confirmed significant methane and ethane contribution with very low CO₂ (0.88%)
The company said that production testing was continuing with an encouraging decline curve profile and tracer data was being collected to provide detail on how each of the 21 stages is contributing to overall production.
At the same time the follow-up Carpentaria-3H and Carpentaria-4V 2022 drilling program was on track to commence in early October
Empire Energy Managing Director Alex Underwood was purring at the results and said of the latest developments: “The Empire team continues to be encouraged with the results that we are seeing at Carpentaria-2H. The well continues to produce strongly, evidently with a relatively shallow decline curve profile compared to other analogue wells.
“We keenly await the receipt of gas and water tracer data that will demonstrate the relative contribution to gas flow from the various stimulation stages in the well. This is likely to provide clarity on which fluid systems and perforation designs are best suited to the development of the Velkerri shale, to be incorporated into stimulation strategy for the Carpentaria-3H well.
“The gas composition data shows that we have a rich gas with very low impurities and, critically in an increasingly carbon constrained world, very low CO2. This will likely reduce the offset challenge in future development scenarios.
“We look forward to providing shareholders further updates as our active 2022 program progresses.”
Flow back of stimulation fluids commenced at Carpentaria-2H on 1 August 2022, immediately following placement of the well’s 21 hydraulic stimulation stages. Empire said the well was progressively “cleaning up” by flowing back placed fluids unaided, without the need for any artificial lift or velocity string. Gas flow commenced on 5 August 2022 with a period of significant but unmeasurable gas rates due to slug flow (gas with water production).
Gas flow measurement began on 7 August 2022 and has flowed continuously, except for a 2-day operational shut-in to swap the hydraulic stimulation surface pipework to production pipework. Following the shut-in a peak rate of >11 mmscf per day was achieved. These flows are through 4 ½” casing. Production tubing was not required.
Gas Composition Analysis
Gas composition data was obtained from gas sampled at the surface gas and water separator. The gas samples taken are from the combined flow from all 21 hydraulic stimulation stages.
Empire said that as was modelled and observed at Carpentaria-1, also located in EP187, the sampled gas stream of C-2H has a high calorific value due to the presence of longer chain hydrocarbons. Also consistent with the previously tested C-1 well and other Beetaloo wells, the total inert volume, including CO2 content, is very low.
