THE EXPLORATION AND APPRAISAL HISTORY OF THE SKUA FIELD, AC /P2 - TIMOR SEA.

Abstract

The discovery of the Skua Field resulted from an extended and aggressive exploration program with major emphasis placed on gaining continual improvements in seismic data quality. Improved seismic data was principally responsible for the accurate delineation of the Swift and Skua structures which resulted in the drilling of the Skua-2 discovery well in 1985.

A positive analysis of the results of Skua-2 (which clipped the fault bounded edge of the field) coupled with extensive new seismic acquisition and further seismic data quality improvements encouraged the AC/P2 Joint Venture to drill the field confirmation well Skua-3, in 1987.

The appraisal stage of the Skua field included three further wells and was designed to investigate several specific problem areas: the modest structural size, the volume of a small associated gas cap, the presence of steeply dipping reservoir strata of interbedded sands and shales, and the effect of discrete zones of intense velocity anomaly.

A major consideration has been to achieve a balance between exploration expenditure and the need to attain a thorough understanding of the complex field geology to reduce the uncertainties associated with the problem areas.

The only potentially viable development option for Skua is to use subsea completions and a floating production facility (FPF). BHP Petroleum's engineering expertise and history of FPF developments at Jabiru and Challis is of great importance to successfully developing this smaller, more complex field.