Soco International PLC
03 November 2006
SOCO International plc
('SOCO' or 'the Company')
Vietnam TGX-1X Well Results
SOCO is an international oil and gas exploration and production company,
headquartered in London, traded on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent
of the FTSE 250 Index. The Company has interests in Vietnam, Yemen, Thailand,
the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) and the Democratic Republic of Congo
(Kinshasa) with production operations in Yemen.
After encountering reservoir sands, the first exploration well on the Te Giac
Xang ('TGX') structure on Prospect 'K' will be plugged and abandoned as initial
analysis indicates that it was not drilled within structural closure. Full
analysis of logs and other data will take several weeks to complete. Prospect 'K
' is a subtle closure to the west of the higher amplitude Te Giac Trang ('TGT')
structure. The seismic over the area will be reprocessed and remapped to better
define the structure for a possible second well.
Located in a previously untested portion of the Clastics fairway on Block 16-1,
the TGX-1X well was drilled to a depth of 3,506 metres. Finding reservoir is
the main risk in drilling in this fairway, so the presence of reservoir in
TGX-1X is a positive indicator for future success as drilling locations step out
from the initial discovery. As has been the case on every well drilled in the
Clastics fairway by the Hoang Long Joint Operating Company ('HLJOC'), having oil
sourced was not an issue.
To date, the HLJOC has had a 50% success rate in exploration/appraisal wells
drilled in the fairway on Block 16-1, with discoveries ranging from 9,340
barrels of oil equivalent per day ('BOEPD') to 17,500 BOEPD and a declaration of
commerciality is expected early in 2007 on the TGT field. Hoan Vu JOC is
proceeding to development on the Ca Ngu Vang field on Block 9-2.
The rig will finish logging this well and rig down as soon as weather permits to
move to the 'H2' fault block on the TGT structure where it will spud the TGT-5X
well. Another rig is under contract to begin drilling in the first or second
quarter of 2007. A letter of intent has been signed for a third rig and
contract negotiations have begun. The rig under contract and the rig expected
to be contracted are for one firm, plus one optional year of drilling.
Ed Story, President and Chief Executive of SOCO, commented:
'Although this well was not a commercial discovery, we did gain some positive
encouragement for further exploration in the 16-1 fairway as far as reservoir
development and oil source are concerned, moving away from the initial
discovery. Accordingly, our view on resource potential is not impacted, but the
well results reinforce the risk profile of exploratory drilling, even in an
excellent setting. We will further refine our seismic to improve trap
definition as we carry out a continuous drilling programme for the next fourteen
months.'
3 November 2006
ENQUIRIES:
SOCO International plc
Roger Cagle Deputy Chief Executive and Tel: 020 7747 2000
Chief Financial Officer
Pelham Public Relations
James Henderson Tel: 020 7743 6673
Archie Berens Tel: 020 7743 6679
Notes to editors:
SOCO holds its interests in Vietnam, all in the Cuu Long Basin offshore, through
its 80% owned subsidiary SOCO Vietnam Limited (SOCO Vietnam) and through its
100% ownership of OPECO, Inc.. SOCO Vietnam holds a 25% working interest in
Block 9-2, which is operated by the Hoan Vu Joint Operating Company ('HVJOC')and
holds a 28.5% working interest in Block 16-1, which is operated by the Hoang
Long Joint Operating Company ('HLJOC'). OPECO, Inc. holds a 2% interest in
Block 16-1.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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