Block Energy plc, the development and production company focused on Georgia, today announced the spudding of the WR-B1 well at WR-BA location on the Company's West Rustavi field on 23 June 2021. The well will target the West Rustavi Middle Eocene reservoir with a horizontal section approximately 800 metres long and completed with a production packer and a slotted horizontal liner fitted with external swellable packers to provide water shut off capability. WR-B1 will target 2.1 MMboe of recoverable oil and gas and be the first well to be drilled using the data from the 3D-seismic survey acquired over the West Rustavi licence area in 2019. If the well is successful, WR-B1 will be rapidly tied into Block's Early Production Facility, processing both oil and gas produced from the well.

Drilling preparation

In preparation of drilling WR-B1, the Block Energy drilling team, in collaboration with the Baker Hughes reservoir technical services team, conducted a geomechanical study to de-risk potential operational challenges. To ensure safe wellbore construction, particular attention has been paid to drilling fluids and cementing design due to potential faults and fractures. The well placement has been optimised to maximise hydrocarbon recovery and the time to drill and the execution risk have been optimised with detailed engineering. Rotary steerable systems and logging-while-drilling will be deployed, which are firsts in Georgia. The drilling results are expected to strengthen the Company's understanding of the Middle Eocene, bolstering its design of a full field development plan.

Future drilling

Future drilling will incorporate results and lessons learned from WR-B1. Technical well planning and engineering screening of several well candidates are in advanced stages. Block is committed to adding significant production to its operations through a combination of new wells and re-entry and side-track of existing wells.

Block Energy's Chief Executive Officer, Paul Haywood, said:
"I am very excited to have commenced our latest drilling campaign in Georgia with the spudding of WR-B1 on our West Rustavi field. The team has worked systematically and tirelessly in preparation of drilling this well, using the latest 3D-seismic technology to pinpoint its location. In addition, we will employ the latest directional drilling technologies to optimise the outcome of this well. On success, the WR-B1 well will be rapidly tied into our production facilities and significantly boost our production in Georgia. I look forward to updating the market further as we progress.

KeyFacts Energy: Block Energy Georgia country profile