A well that is close to, but outside of the known reservoir is called what?

A well that is close to, but outside of the known reservoir is called what?

• A. Appraisal well
• B. Wildcat well
• C. Stepout well
• D. Production well

Answer: (C)

Testing outside the mapped reservoir boundary by drilling a well near the edge is a stepout operation. The aim is to confirm whether the reservoir extends beyond its current limit and to quantify potential extra reserves. Stepout wells are placed just outside the known area to delineate the boundary and inform development plans. This differs from a wildcat well, which investigates a completely new area with no prior evidence of hydrocarbons; from an appraisal well, which evaluates a known reservoir’s size and properties (usually within or at the edge of the field); and from a production well, which is drilled to produce hydrocarbons from an established portion of the field.

Testing outside the mapped reservoir boundary by drilling a well near the edge is a stepout operation. The aim is to confirm whether the reservoir extends beyond its current limit and to quantify potential extra reserves. Stepout wells are placed just outside the known area to delineate the boundary and inform development plans. This differs from a wildcat well, which investigates a completely new area with no prior evidence of hydrocarbons; from an appraisal well, which evaluates a known reservoir’s size and properties (usually within or at the edge of the field); and from a production well, which is drilled to produce hydrocarbons from an established portion of the field.