We are finally done!, On the 79th day of field work it is clear that the Mallik project has been a great success. We have met our field research goals and in some areas exceeded them. In addition to the first testing of a gas hydrate deposit, we have also completed a number of new geophysical surveys, successfully installed new fibre optics temperature sensors, collected a unique and very complete coring interval, and undertaken wide ranging laboratory studies.
Thermal testing proceeded smoothly as planned with bottom hole temperatures stabilizing at target levels. In addition to the acquisition of production data, fluid and gas samples have been continuously collected since the start of the testing.
Cross hole tomography completed by 15, Cased hole logging began at 0, In Inuvik activities are winding down. After weeks of frenzied activities following the successful coring of the Mallik gas hydrate interval the Inuvik science team successfully conducted a variety of specialized research on a selection of gas hydrate-bearing core samples.
Quiet time was continued in the main hole to allow for a baseline cross well tomography survey with in Mallik 3L and 4L as little disturbance as possible., Cross hole tomography time 0 survey starts in main hole during quiet operations and during rig up for the cased hole and initial cased hole logging program.
Quiet time was allocated in main hole to allow for a baseline cross well tomography survey with as little disturbance as possible. Cross well tomography survey underway in Mallik 3L and 4L., The missing Tomoseis wireline truck arrived today in the afternoon and was quickly readied for operations. Two of these trucks left Texas at the same time. One arrived safely and the other went missing. It turns out that the second truck was broken down on a remote part of the Dempster Highway.
After a reception and dinner on their arrival at Inuvik yesterday, the group travelled today to the drill rig one way by helicopter and the other by the ice road. The day could not have been better for a visit as it was mild and the activities on site were impressive. With the open hole well logging having just been finished, logging scientists Collett and Sawamura gave an overview of the work to date., In the Mallik 5L-38 well hole, casing runs successfully to 1165m with two complete DTS cable loops strapped to 987m. Cementing is completed with good returns to the surface.
Wireline logging in the hydrate section of the Mallik 5L-38 well, was conducted from February 20 until today. The total operation time was almost 30 hours including the rig-up and rig-down times. Five logging tool configurations were run in the hole.
By midnight the main hole logging program had begun., Hopes are high that with a successful research logging run and complimentary coring data the data quality from Mallik 5L will be very high.
Yesterday and today the clearing operation of the Mallik4L-38 well hole was a success and the hole is open again. A coiled TBG unit has been used., In the Inuvik Research Center the core logging is at his climax.
Work in the Inuvik Research Center still continues. Now the samples of the core runs are examinated. At the drill site preparations for the loggings begins.
Coring continued with completion of core run 38 to 45 reaching a depth of 1141.7m. The scientists in the Inuvik Research Center are under full work and get first results from the core samples.
Core activities continued at a steady pace with the lower gas hydrate zone proving to be mainly fine to medium grained sands with high gas hydrate saturations. Efforts were taken to fill the remaining sample storage space in liquid Nitrogen dewars and also pressure vessels. In Inuvik the Scientists continues their sample studies such as the isotopic geochemical investigations of Chen Yifeng and Tomaru Hitoshi from the University of Tokyo.
Coring has continued well over the past 24 hours however the rate of advance has slowed somewhat due to the occurrence of fine grained silts and shales. The PDC coring bit currently being used is well suited to varied lithology, however its effectiveness is limited in fine grained sediments due to blocking or balling up of the bit. Core quality and recovery rate have been good. All Scientists at the Inuvik Research Center are now under full work.
Drilling the last meters before reaching the coring depth at 885 m. In contrast to the days before drilling advance was really successful with more than 150 m! Now, nothing can stop us from coring.
After some further delay from unexpected technical problems drilling continues in the afternoon and reaching a depth of 731m at the end of the day. Excitement increases in expectation of the first coring day. Weather
Continued work on the BOP including pressure testing. Making up mud. Another day was spent with little new science to report at the rig or in Inuvik. However our research team continues to make good use of their time.
