The well is located in the Papua New Guinea North Highlands, approximately 13 miles northwest of the Hides gas field. It successfully flowed gas at a rate of up 16 million ft3/d. ExxonMobil claims that the well rate was constrained by test facilities, which limited tests to short flow and build-up periods. Hydrocarbon samples were collected during the production test.
The President of ExxonMobil Exploration Co., Steve Greenlee, said: “We are encouraged by these well test results and will integrate them into the ongoing resource evaluation work and potential appraisal program in 2018.
“The success at Muruk adds to a growing resource base in PNG, through focused exploration and ExxonMobil’s recent acquisition of InterOil. These high-quality resources position the PNG LNG project for a multiple-train expansion that will continue to provide a highly competitive cost of supply.”
The production test confirms Muruk as a potentially significant new discovery close to existing PNG LNG infrastructure. ExxonMobil claims that Oil Search commenced drilling the Muruk 1 well on 2 November 2016.