Block Energy achieves successful back-to-back drilling campaigns, provides operational updates
(WO) — Block Energy Plc, an exploration and production company focused on Georgia, announced its operations update for the first three months of 2023, ending on March 31.
Health, safety and emissions
Over 106,976 operational man-hours were worked by staff and contractors in Q1, with one minor LTI and no serious incidents.
The company again sought to minimize emissions, in-line with its commitments, but needed to flare 60,656 m3 of gas due to unplanned shutdowns and WR-B01Za testing operations.
Operations
As planned, the WR-B01Za trajectory penetrated and followed a seismic lineation running parallel to and around 500m to the west of the lineation penetrated by JKT-01Z. The well crossed a fault immediately before entering the productive part of the fracture system, which caused unstable wellbore conditions.
The company’s drilling team conducted a successful low-cost wellbore intervention resulting in a production rate of 269 bopd (241 bopd oil & 4,800 m3/d gas), as notified on April 3. Following this reporting period, the well was handed over to the production team and remains on production.
The results of JKT-01Z followed by WR-B01Za provide back-to-back drilling success, further validating the company's reservoir understanding and confirming its ability to accurately place horizontal wells in areas of good productivity.
Total production from Project I sidetrack wells exceeds 250,000 boe gross to date.
Corporate
The company has completed the previously announced agreement for a 50% farm-out of non-core areas of Licence XIB to Georgia Oil & Gas Limited, in exchange for a work program with an estimated value of $3 million gross, comprising $2.5 million for 2D seismic acquisition and $0.5m for seismic reprocessing (“Project IV”).
The farmout provides the company with direct exposure to a high-impact exploration play, targeting prospective resource volumes of 3.1 TSCF gas and 1,400 MMbbl oil, which is benefiting from a material work program at no cost to the company. None of the existing fields, current production nor future development plans associated with Projects I, II and III, within Licence XIB, are subject to the farm-out.
Additionally, the company secured a senior loan facility of $2.0 million, of which $1.06 million has been drawn down. The funds provide Block with the resources to accelerate its Project I development program, which includes the recent successful drilling of well WR-B01Za.
Oil and gas production
During Q1, gross production (including the state of Georgia’s share) was 36.0 Mboe (Q4: 34.4 Mboe), comprising 26.8 Mbbl of oil (Q4: 27.4 Mbbl) and 9.2 Mboe of gas (Q4: 7.0 Mboe). The average gross production rate for Q1 was 400 boepd (Q4: 374 boepd).
Oil sales
In Q1 2023, the company sold 13.3 Mbbl of oil (Q4: 21.3 Mbbl) for $999,000 (Q3:$1,691,000), at a weighted average price of $75 per bb (Q4: US$ 79 per bbl). The decrease in sales, compared to production, relates to the timing of liftings.
As of March 31, the company had c. 12,500 bbl of oil in storage, which is expected to be sold in April, generating approximately $1.0 million in revenue at the current Brent price and therefore falls into the next reporting period.
Gas sales
In Q1 2023, the company sold 37.7 MMcf of gas (Q4: 27.3 MMcf) for $194,900 (Q4: $149,000), resulting in a weighted average price of approximately $5.57/Mcf (Q4: $5.45/Mcf).
Block Energy plc’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Haywood, said, “The first quarter of 2023 saw a robust start to the year. The Company continued to deliver on its successful drilling and asset development program, with the results of WR-B01Za leading to record group production levels being realised outside this reporting period.
“Our focus on operational excellence and cost discipline has allowed us to deliver good results this quarter, further demonstrating our resilience and ability to create value for our shareholders.”
