Roc plugs Angola heavy oil appraisal well

October 8, 2008 LUANDA -- Roc Oil has plugged and abandoned MAW-1, the first appraisal well to be set up as a result of the Massambala heavy oil discovery.

Upstream reports that the well reached a total depth of 455 metres and preliminary interpretation of data from MAW-1 confirmed a heavy oil column of 9.5 metres gross pay and reservoir parameters as predicted.

Roc will spud one more well as part of its appraisal drilling schedule before the onset of seasonal rainfall. The original exploration oil well the Massambala-1, discovered a shallow zone of oil and data from a sidetrack well showed a 16-metre gross oil column with about 15 metres of net oil-saturated sand with good-to-excellent reservoir qualities. Roc Oil said that it hopes to recover 20% of heavy oil accumulated, although 10% is a more regular rate when compared with other worldwide instances.

The Sydney-based exploration and production firm conducted two seismic surveys in the area, which is separated from the rest of Angola by a small strip of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Roc Oil has a 60% interest in the Cabinda South Block, while its two partners, Force Petroleum and state energy firm Sonangol, both hold 20%.

© 2008, Global Insight Limited.