Yemen, August 2008: Total E & P has awarded Cables International the contract to supply all electrical, instrumentation, communication and other speciality offshore cables and cable glands for the Kharir Basement Project Phase I.

This complex and challenging job is part of the permanent gas compression workscope, combined with enhanced fire and gas systems, communications and systems upgrades.

“We are delighted to be awarded this important project and our first from Total E & P Yemen. We will ensure a successful outcome by managing the project on the ground in Yemen” commented Cables International Middle East General Manager Ir. Redzwan Shah.

The “Basement” is an unconventional reservoir comprising a series of ancient metamorphic rocks. In the past, exploration drilling was stopped when the Basement was reached. Today, the challenge is to locate within the mass of Basement rocks, the fractures where the hydrocarbons are located, and where they can be produced.

TEP Yemen is keen to use advanced and efficient technologies throughout its operations. By mid 2006, Total was the first company in Yemen to use Under Balanced Drilling (UBD) technique, which consists of reducing the pressure inside the wellbore to below that of the formation being drilled. This technique enhances well productivity and reduces formation damage.  

The challenges are many, from locating the most producing areas to assessing oil accumulations and reserves. Due to the Basement’s unusual characteristics, an innovative approach was required to evaluate the Basement reservoir. Advanced reservoir modeling, based on a comprehensive synthesis of the available data is currently being launched for a better understanding of the complex Kharir Basement field and for further development planning.