Apache Corporation (APA) announced it has initiated production from its Garten development on Block 9/18a Area-W in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea. The discovery well, which is located 6kms south of the Beryl Alpha Platform, was placed on production in late November, less than eight months after being drilled in March 2018.
The discovery well at Garten encountered a downthrown structural closure with 778 feet of net oil pay in stacked, high-quality, Jurassic-aged sandstone reservoirs. The well is currently producing from the Beryl sand at a rate of 13.7 thousand barrels of oil per day (MBOPD) and 15.7 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMCFPD). Two lower zones were also successfully tested, and all three zones will ultimately be commingled to maximize recovery. The strong initial rate establishes excellent momentum late in the year and will positively impact Apache’s 2019 production guidance. As previously disclosed, the recoverable resource is expected to exceed 10 million barrels of light oil plus associated natural gas. Apache has a 100% working interest in the Garten development.
The Garten field is tied back to the Beryl Alpha platform, which is located 180 miles northeast of Aberdeen. It follows Apache’s successful Callater field discovery in the Beryl area, which came online in May 2017.
