Apache Corporation today reported five new oil discoveries in its Faghur Basin play in the far southwest of Egypt’s Western Desert oil and gas province.
Apache also said that the AG-96 development well in the Abu Gharadig Concession tested 3,347 barrels of oil and 1 million cubic feet (MMcf) of natural gas per day from the Lower Bahariya formation. The well — drilled on acreage acquired from BP in late 2010 — is expected to lead to several additional wells before year end.
The Faghur Basin discoveries included:
- West Kalabsha-I-4 logged 79 feet of net pay in the Jurassic Safa sands. In a test, the well flowed 7,150 barrels of oil per day and 11.4 million cubic feet (MMcf) of gas per day.
- Faghur North-1X logged 25 feet of net pay in the Safa and Paleozoic Desouqy sands. Combined tests had a rate of 1,444 barrels of oil and 3.9 MMcf of gas per day.
- Faghur South-1X logged 38 feet of net pay in Safa and Cretaceous AEB-6 sands. The Safa tested 2,768 barrels of oil and 4 MMcf of gas per day.
- Huni-1X logged 27 feet of net pay in the AEB-3 sands. The well tested 970 barrels per day from the AEB-3E sand.
- Neith North-1X logged 20 feet of net pay in the AEB-3 sands and 57 feet of net pay in the Safa sands. A Safa well test is planned this month.
“These discoveries and production from the Tayim development lease approved during the revolution period illustrate the fact that Egypt’s energy sector is continuing to move forward,” Tom Voytovich, vice president of Apache’s Egypt Region said. “Our recent drilling successes provide clear evidence of the exploration potential on Apache acreage in Egypt and the benefits of working in stacked-pay areas.”
This year Apache has drilled eight new discoveries in 10 attempts in the Faghur Basin, and drilling is under way on three additional wells: Mandulis-1X; Neilos-1X; and Faghur North-2X.
Eight additional exploration wells are planned for the area this year.
