Zama well in Mexico strikes pay

Talos Energy has completed the drilling and testing of the Zama-2 appraisal well offshore Mexico, achieving positive results, the independent E&P company said in a press release on Wednesday.

The well was drilled around 25% under budget and 28 days ahead of schedule, reaching a true vertical depth of 3,279 metres and encountering “materially thicker sand than the Zama-1 discovery well and slightly thicker than the pre-drill estimates,” the statement said. The well struck 177 metres of net oil pay before encountering water at 3,430 metres, 30 metres deeper than expected.

“We were able to achieve our primary goals of understanding the depositional environment and the presence of thick sand bodies needed for robust aquifer support, both of which help with ultimate recovery,” Talos president and CEO Timothy S. Duncan said.

“We also confirmed that this section of the reservoir has similar or better rock properties as compared to the Zama-1 discovery well and that the pressure information indicates connectivity to Zama-1.”

The Zama consortium – comprising operator Talos (35%), Sierra Oil & Gas (40%) and Premier Oil (25%) – will move on to drill a sidetrack well and another appraisal well. First oil at the field is expected in H2 2022.