Petroleum Africa
Find us on: 
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Three new discoveries were made in Egypt’s WesternDesert by Apache Corp. The discoveries were made on the North Ras Qattara, the Siwa, and the North Tarek Concessions.
The NRQ 3151-1X, in the North Ras Qattara Concession, test-flowed at a combined rate of 1,625 bpd of oil and 18.7 Mmcf/d of natural gas per day from two intervals in the Jurassic Lower Safa Formation, the deepest production established to date in the WesternDesert producing province. Logging operations confirmed 100 ft of pay sands were encountered in multiple zones, including the Cretaceous Upper Bahariya, the Jurassic Zahra, the Upper Safa, and the Lower Safa.
Apache said that appraisal drilling is planned for later in 2013, along with an offset Jurassic play and a shallower Bahariya well. Apache has a 70% operated interest in the North Ras Qattara Concession with IPR holding the remaining 30%.
On the Siwa Concession the company hit with the drilling of the SIWA L-1X. This well tested at a rate of 2,041 bpd of oil from the lower-most portion of a thick Paleozoic Desouky pay sand. The discovery well encountered 123 ft of hydrocarbon pay in the Cretaceous Alam el Buieb (AEB-3E), AEB-5, Jurassic Safa, and the Desouky zones. Production is expected to commence following government approval of a development lease. In addition to extending the productive fairway of the FaghurBasin, this discovery also sets up a number of analogous prospects for drilling later in 2013. Apache is the operator and has a 50% working interest in the Siwa Concession with the state-owned Tharwa Petroleum Co. also holding a 50% working interest.
The NTRK-G-1X on the North Tarek Concession encountered 60 net ft of Upper Safa hydrocarbon pay and tested at 14.8 MMcf/d of natural gas and 1,522 barrels of condensate per day. This Jurassic Upper Safa discovery extends the productive fairway found two miles to the northeast. A gas gathering system is currently being installed in this area by Khalda Petroleum Co., Apache’s JV with EGPC, and is expected to be completed in Q3. Apache has a 100% working interest in the North Tarek Concession.
“Apache’s discoveries, made in three separate basins, highlight the company’s diverse potential for new oil and gas developments across its concessions. This exploration success extends the company’s production base to the northeast at the North Ras Qattara Concession and to the southwest in the Siwa Concession,” said Thomas M. Maher, Egypt Region VP and GM. “We operate in the most remote areas of the country, and have for 20 years. Our exploration and production activities continue without interruption. During the first quarter we maintained a very active drilling pace, operating on average 26 rotary rigs every day during the period.” Maher also noted a deep backlog of drilling opportunities.
" alt="First LNG Realized at the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim Project">
" alt="United Energy Acquires Western Desert Producer APEX">
" alt="Baker Hughes Announces Major Gas Technology Orders for Venture Global LNG">
" alt="ReconAfrica: Naingopo Results Demonstrate a Working Petroleum System">
" alt="Tullow Highlights 2025 Operational Plans in Ghana">
" alt="TotalEnergies to Supply 1.5 TWh to STMicroelectronics in France Over 15 years">
" alt="Rockhopper Reaches Final Settlement with United on Egypt’s Abu Sennan Concession">
" alt="Oil & Gas Crucial for African Growth: AEC Calls for Industry Support to Defend African Market">
