NPA announces oil and gas discoveries of Karau, Lafek and Liurai wells

DILI, 05 december 2023 (TATOLI) – National Petroleum Authority, I.P. (NPA) has announced the well discoveries of Karau-1 exploration well (with its local cultural name known as Feto-Kmaus-1 well), the first onshore exploration well drilled in the PSC TL-OT-17-08 and the Lafaek-1 exploration well (with its local cultural name known as Weda-1 well), the third onshore exploration well drilled in PSC TL-OT-17-08.  The PSC TL-OT-17-08 and TL-OT-17-09 are held by Timor Resources Pty.Ltd as the Operator and in Joint Venture with Timor Gap Onshore Blocks Unip. Lda. The Karau1/Feto-Kmaus-1 was spudded on 25th october 2021 whereas the Lafaek-1/Weda-1 was spudded on 2nd october 2022. The Lafaek-1/Weda-1 exploration well is the deepest onshore well drilled in Timor-Leste.

According to NPA, the results of the two wells indicate hydrocarbon occurrences at multiple intervals where C1-C5 gas was observed through chromatograph detection during the mud logging monitoring. Further, six (6) mini-drill stem tests (mini-DSTs) were conducted for Karau-1/Feto-Kmaus-1 in November and December 2021 and three (3) drill stem tests (DSTs) were conducted for Lafaek-1/Weda-1 in April 2023. Most of the DSTs of the two (2) wells recovered hydrocarbon from multiple zones. Detailed information on hydrocarbon occurrences from the two wells is presented in the table below.

“The hydrocarbon samples (oil and gas, including water samples) collected from the two wells were sent to a technical laboratory in Jakarta, Indonesia for further fluid geochemical analysis. The result of laboratory analysis for the samples collected from the Karau-1/Feto-Kmaus-1 indicate light oil and gas condensate; and samples from Lafaek-1/Weda-1 indicate light-sweet oil and gas based on API standard,” said in a statement. 

According to the Article 7 (dd) of Decree Law No.18/2020 of 13th May on the Onshore Petroleum Operations defined Discovery as “any occurrence of Petroleum in a Contract Area, independent from quantity, quality, or commercial viability, verified by at least two detection or evaluation methods”. By Virtue of fact, both the Karau-1/Feto-Kmaus-1 and Lafaek-1/Weda-1 exploration wells are considered technical Discoveries as evidenced by oil and gas samples that were taken directly from respective zones of the two wells and the presence of C1-C5 gas during mud logging monitoring.

Currently, the status of these two (2) explorations wells are under temporary suspensions with possibility of reentering in the future if it is deemed worthwhile or a possible planning for appraisals prior to declaration of the Commercial Discoveries.

Meanwhile, NPA also announced the well discoveries of the Kumbili-1 exploration well (with its local cultural name known as Liurai-1 well), the second onshore exploration well drilled by Timor Resources together with Timor Gap in 26 december 2021.

Throughout the Kumbili-1/Liurai-1 exploration well drilling campaign, the operator managed to carry out pressure test and fluid samples by means of dual packer MDT pressure test/ mini-DST test with aims to obtain formation pressure as well as to collect hydrocarbon samples. The mini DST test was successfully recovered oil sample from the Lower Allochthon (Late Triassic) sequence which was then sent to laboratory analysis showing that the oil is sweet oil in accordance with API standards. In addition, the Operator also encountered C1-C5 throughout mud logging monitoring.  

The fields of Lafaek-1/ Weda-1, Kumbili-1/Liurai-1 and Karau-1/Feto-Kmaus-1 have been independently certified by Energy Resource Development Pty Ltd, under PRMS 2018. The ANP will continue to review the said certification report and work closely with Timor Resources and its Joint Venture to ensure a successful exploration activities in accordance with applicable laws in Timor-Leste.

Journalist: Camilo de Sousa

Editor: Filomeno Martins