Proactive Surveillance and Phased Development Yields Promising Results from the Aurora Field 30-Years after Discovery

Although three 1969 exploration wells discovered hydrocarbons in the Aurora structure, development was not possible until a scope change to the V-200 exploration well demonstrated commerciality 30-years later. Commencing in June 2000, an aggressive 6-well horizontal and vertical development/appraisal program yielded over 1.75 million barrels of oil in the first year and provided a better understanding of a reservoir previously thought marginally commercial. Investment in reservoir description and proactive surveillance led to accurate decision-making, and with innovations, yielded significant return from a "marginal" field.