10.13.2017
The 50:50 joint venture partners in the North Malay Basin project off Peninsular Malaysia are looking ahead to a give-well appraisal drilling campaign that will help them evaluate the viability of future tie-in projects, writes Russell Searancke.
Hess and Petronas gave rise to the project in early 2012 when they signed a series of agreements that brought nine discoveries into one area, which they named the North Malay Basin development with Hess as operator.
Petronas said at the time that about $5 billion would be invested through a phased development until 2017.
The initial phase targeted production of up to 100 million cubic feet per day of gas, while the full-field stage is aimed at delivering at least 300 MMcfd in addition to condensate.
The early production phase tapped into just one of the nine discoveries - Kamelia.
The full-field development is initially focused on the largest of the nine - Bergading - in a phase one venture, says Gerbert Schoonman, Hess' vice president for global offshore production.
The other seven fields are called Bunga Dahlia, Teratai, Gajah, Melati, Zetung Anggerik, and Kesumba, and all are located in Block PM302.
The next two discoveries will be the basis for a phase two project that will require a couple of wellhead platforms.
The joint venture is also embarking on a five-well appraisal drilling campaign that will provide more information on optimising and enhancing the opportunities in the future phases, says Schoonman, who is delighted with the safety levels achieved so far in the execution of the full-field scheme.
"We're proud that we were able to log more than 20 million man-hours with an industry-leading safety record, and we delivered it just over five years after signing the production sharing contracts."
He adds that Hess' focus in Malaysia is very much on the North Malay project, as well as maintaining solid production at Block A-18.
"The North Malay Basin project is fundamental to Hess' short-term growth trajectory" he says.
Russel Searancke
11 October 2017