Egypt: North Red Sea deepwater prospect dry

June 7, 2011
Hess Corp. and Premier Oil PLC encountered hydrocarbon shows but no reservoir quality sandstones at the NRS-2a deepwater exploratory well on North Red Sea Block 1 in the Red Sea off Egypt.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, June 7
– Hess Corp. and Premier Oil PLC encountered hydrocarbon shows but no reservoir quality sandstones at the NRS-2a deepwater exploratory well on North Red Sea Block 1 in the Red Sea off Egypt.

The well went to 5,200 m in 700 m of water 65 km north of Quseir on the Cherry prospect targeting a Cretaceous Nubian play. The 2.3 million acre block contains numerous Gulf of Suez-style Cretaceous prospects and leads and Miocene leads and has 3D seismic coverage. Block interests are Hess 80% and Premier 20%.

The companies will integrate well results with geologic, seismic, and engineering data to judge whether alternate opportunities exist on the block, Premier said. Another operator was negotiating to use the Stena Forth drillship until late 2011, Hess said.