APA Corporation today provided results from recent drilling operations on Suriname Block 53. APA Suriname, the operator, holds a 45% working interest in the block, with Petronas holding a 30% working interest and CEPSA holding a 25% working interest.

APA has completed operations on the Rasper well in the northwestern area of the block. The well encountered water bearing reservoirs in the Campanian and Santonian intervals, evaluation of the open hole well logs, and formation and reservoir fluid samples is ongoing.

The Noble Gerry de Souza drillship will be mobilizing to the next exploration prospect, Baja, in the southwestern corner of Block 53. Baja lies approximately 11 kilometers northeast of the recently announced Block 58 discovery at Krabdagu and will test Maastrichtian and Campanian targets.

Map source: KeyFacts Energy

Offshore Block 53

In February 2012, Apache signed a production sharing agreement with Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname for block 53 offshore Suriname.

The acreage covers 3,509 sq km (1,355 sq mi) in water depths of 1,640-5,900 ft (500-1,800 m), about 80 mi (130 km) offshore.

In December 2013, CEPSA closed a deal with Apache Suriname Corp to acquire a 25% stake in Block 53.