Apache Corporation has reported six discoveries from its 2003 onshore drilling program in Egypt's Western Desert. These are in addition to the recently announced Qasr- 1X discovery, which tested at a combined rate of 51.8 million cubic feet (mmcf) of gas per day.
In the 235,000-acre Matruh Concession, Apache drilled the Alexandrite-1X wildcat to 15,300 feet in the Jurassic Lower Safa formation. The well logged 146 net feet of gas and condensate pay located mostly in the Upper Safa, Kabrit and Lower Safa formations between 12,112 feet and 15,189 feet.
A test of the Kabrit interval flowed at a daily rate of 20 mmcf and 1,683 barrels of condensate on a one-inch choke with 1,451 pounds per square inch (psi) of wellhead pressure.
The well was drilled on a structure identified on 3D seismic and establishes the first production from the Kabrit sands outside Apache's Salam field 30 miles to the south. Upon completion, the well will be connected to the Tarek Gas Plant via the Matruh area gas gathering system.
Apache plans to drill a confirmation well later this year.
Apache is the operator of the Matruh Concession, holding a 100 percent contractor interest. In the East Bahariya Concession, Apache completed five discovery wells in the Abu Roash G and Upper Bahariya formations. The wells tested at a combined rate of 4,592 barrels of oil per day.
With nine consecutive discoveries and 18 producing wells in the field, daily oil production in 2003 has increased from 3,098 barrels to over 7,000 barrels. Apache is the operator and holds a 100 percent contractor interest in the concession.
Apache Corporation is a leading independent oil and gas company with core operations in the United States, Canada, Egypt, the United Kingdom North Sea and Western Australia. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
