WELLINGTON, New Zealand, March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Austral Pacific Energy Ltd. (TSX-V: APX; NZSX: APX; Amex: AEN)
Following on from the successful rig workover to isolate the K3E formation, testing operations commenced on Cardiff 2A ST-1 two weeks ago. Well testing operations comprises an initial flow period allowing the well to clean up, followed by an extended shut-in period for a pressure build up to assess the current reservoir conditions. The initial clean up phase has been completed and Austral has now shut-in the well. The shut-in period is expected to be 3-4 weeks, after which further testing operations will resume.
The initial flow period recovered workover and completion fluids, and some formation fluid, with small amounts of gas from the reservoir. The reservoir pressure during the test appears to be below expectations, based on the offset Cardiff 1 well data. This could be an indication of reservoir damage during the long dormant period between the initial drilling and this testing program. The remainder of the test program on the K3E reservoir, including re-perforating the reservoir sequence and flow testing, will be reviewed, once the results of the current shut-in period are assessed.
The information gained from this test is an important component of the ongoing Cardiff field appraisal and development activities.
Austral Pacific's CEO, Thom Jewell, said, "Expectations were not high of flowing sustainable gas/condensates from this part of the test program. The perforated interval is assumed to have been badly damaged during the original testing and the well has been left shut-in for the last 18 months, exacerbating the damage and making contact with the reservoir unlikely. However, samples and the pressure data are vital for us to fully assess the potential of this resource that lies in 4 distinct fault compartments and may total between 200-500 bcf. The shut-in period will provide further pressure data and the follow-up operations will depend on the interpretation of this and all available information."
None of the Exchanges upon which Austral Pacific's securities trade have approved or disapproved the contents hereof. This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable legislation. Other than statements of historical fact, all statements in this release addressing future production, reserve potential, exploration and development activities and other contingencies are forward-looking statements. Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, due to factors such as market prices, exploration and development successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market, political or business conditions. See our public filings at http://www.sedar.com/ and http://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/webusers.htm for further information.
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