Tullow Oil says that the Hyedua-2 well, which has been drilled to appraise the Jubilee field offshore Ghana, flowed at a stable rate of 16,750 bopd. This result confirms good reservoir connectivity and very high productivity and also indicates that future production well deliverability will be in excess of 20,000 bopd.

The Hyedua-2 appraisal well, which lies in the Deepwater Tano licence, has been drilled to a total depth of 3,663 metres by the Blackford Dolphin rig in a water depth of 1,246 metres. The well intersected 55 metres of high quality oil bearing reservoir sandstones of which a 41 metre section has been production tested.

Three flow tests were conducted and a maximum rate of 16,750 bopd of 37 degree API gravity crude oil and 21 million cubic feet per day of associated natural gas was achieved through a 88/64” choke with a tubing head pressure of 1,380 pounds per square inch. This confirms that Jubilee is a highly productive reservoir and that once the wells have been configured for long-term production they will be capable of producing at rates in excess of 20,000 bopd.

Hyedua-2 is located on the north-west flank of the field and the excellent reservoir properties measured during this flow test are expected to be even better in the core area of the field. Stable oil and gas flow rates were maintained throughout the tests and the pressure data indicates that it is connected to a large pore volume. This excellent reservoir continuity enhances our expectation of connectivity between the planned production and injection wells and we are currently assessing the positive impact on Phase 1 reserves.

The combination of outstanding reservoir productivity and continuity is very encouraging for Phase 1 of the Jubilee development which remains on schedule for first oil in the second half of 2010. The Hyedua-2 well will now be suspended, as planned, for later completion as a production well.

Tullow (49.95%) operates the Deepwater Tano licence. Other partners include Kosmos Energy (18%), Anadarko Petroleum (18%), Sabre Oil & Gas (4.05%) and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) (10% carried interest). Tullow is also the Unit Operator of the Jubilee field.

Aidan Heavey, Chief Executive, said, “Results from the Hyedua-2 and Mahogany-3 wells have confirmed our view of the substantial upside potential of the Jubilee field. The subsequent Hyedua-2 test, flowing at nearly 17,000 bopd of high quality crude, from a well not even in the centre of the field, is an outstanding success and indicative of a world class reservoir. These exceptional results further validate the partnership’s decision to proceed with a fast track development and have significantly increased our confidence in the delivery of Phase 1 production rates and reserves.”

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