Dover Petroleum’s two drill stem tests on the exploratory well in the Gulf of Suez indicated the presence of two hydrocarbon columns with thicknesses of 77 feet and 92 feet, respectively. Both intervals were drill stem tested with nitrogen lift assistance, but failed to flow oil.
The tests were carried out in the Middle Miocene Kareem Formation and Eocene Thebes Formation dolomitic limestone zones. Dover Egypt Joint Venture I is continuing a detailed evaluation of the drill stem test results and the water samples obtained.
In the light of regional data from previous drilling in the area, it is, preliminarily, believed that the possible causes for the lack of oil flow on stem tests are either that the hydrocarbon is a heavy oil due to biodegradation and thus is immovable or the dolomitic limestones where the oil is reservoired are tight.
The lack of oil could also be attributed to major water losses to the formation during drilling damaging the formation at the well bore. This complete loss of circulation of drilling fluid while drilling caused further technical problems which prevented the investigation of the deeper primary sandstone targets of the Matullah and Nubia.
Dover Egypt I Joint Venture has decided to commence drilling of a second exploratory well prospect (EWA-1X) in the northern region of the area covered by the Concession Agreement, while the data at EWA-2X exploratory well are fully evaluated.
Dover Egypt Joint Venture I expects to work with the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), which is a party to the Concession Agreement, to obtain a future drill slot to return and drill the first exploratory target (EWA-2X) again, with a step-out well, for the purpose of investigating the Matullah and Nubia zones which have not been tested to date.
The Gulf of Suez well is under the East Wadi Araba Concession Agreement, in which Dover Petroleum participates by virtue of its 56.25 percent interest in Dover Egypt I Joint Venture, which is a party to an Option Agreement entitling that joint venture to acquire 100 percent of the operator's interest in the Concession Agreement. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
