Block Brings Georgian Field Back Online

Georgia-focused Block Energy has restored production at the West Rustavi oil and gas field after bringing on stream the 16aZ well earlier this month, the company said on July 26.

The 16aZ well was drilled and tested earlier this year, achieving an impressive test flow rate of 1,100 b/day of oil – more than three times what was anticipated.

The well entered production on July 11 and since been flowing a rate of 360 boe/day, including 295b/day of oil land 390,000 ft³ of gas. Block is now preparing to sink the 38Z sidetrack well, seen as an analogue to 16aZ, using horizontal drilling. It plans to drill four sidetracks in total in 2019 and 2020, with two testing historic gas discoveries in Lower Eocene formations.

West Rustavi, located in western Georgia near the capital Tbilisi, holds 0.9mn barrels of proven and probable oil reserves, according to Block. Its best-estimate contingent resources are estimated at 38mn barrels of oil and 17.2bn m³ of gas. Block raised its stake in the project from 71.5% to 100% earlier this month.