Prospex Energy plc said that equipment left inside the tubing of the Viura-1 well during testing had further delayed resumption of production from the gas field in northern Spain.
SAFETY
In August, operator Heyco Energia Iberia S.L. completed a well workover, but a “failure in the pressure control equipment” needed safe and controlled cutting of the associated cable while still inside the well.
A wireline logging tool and its cable was subsequently left inside the tubing.
The partners waited for specialist equipment to arrive from Aberdeen and on 16 September began to retrieve or secure the tool and cable below the safety valve.
Prospex said it was not yet known when gas production would restart.
“This is a very unfortunate setback in re-instating production from this prolific gas field,” added chief executive officer Mark Routh.
“Safety of production operations is paramount and the operator is working as quickly as it can to resume gas production from the field at stable and sustainable rates, but this has to be done safely.
“Until the logging equipment that remains in the hole can be removed or safely located and secured downhole, gas production can not resume. ”
Prospex owns 7.24% of the Viura field through its 7.5% ownership of Heyco.
The company is also accruing 14.47% of production income until payback of its £8 million investment, plus accrued 10% per annum interest.