Irish oil explorer Providence Resources reported that its Barryroe appraisal well, offshore southern Ireland, has successfully flowed oil and gas.

A 24-feet thick net pay interval in the oil bearing basal Wealden sandstone section was perforated as the first phase of the well testing programme. Stabilised flow rates of 3,514 barrels of oil per day and 2.9 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (4,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day) were achieved through a 68/64-inch choke with a well head pressure of 517 pounds per square inch without the use of artificial lift.

The well was tested using vacuum insulated tubing over just the upper 2,600 feet of the total 7,400 feet test string length due to equipment availability constraints. As expected, laboratory reservoir fluid analysis confirms that the oil is light with a gravity of 42-degree API and a wax content of 20 percent. The oil is highly mobile with an in-situ reservoir viscosity of 0.68 centipoises and a gas-oil ratio of c. 800 SCF/STB (standard cubic foot per stock tank barrel).

Tags: Providence Resources Plc