Glitch stops first gas drill stem test
A technical glitch on Thursday prevented the completion of the drill stem test, known as “lighting of the flame,” at the natural gas rig in Block 12 off the coast of Cyprus, the island’s Energy Ministry announced, with officials saying that a second test is now expected to take place soon.
The trial extraction of gas is necessary for an analysis of the reserves’ quality as well as flow and pressure, which are of particular significance given that they constitute the natural force that will drive the gas up to the platform and into the pipelines.
Cypriot Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis said that the natural gas reserves will likely be able to be fully utilized by early 2020.
