PA Resources Tunisia has submitted Tunisian authorities a plan of development for Zarat field that outlines a multiphase joint venture between PA Resources and L’Entreprise Tunisienne d’Activites Petrolieres (ETAP).
The large, shallow-water, gas-condensate and oil field is considered Tunisia’s largest undeveloped resource and is thought to contain 147 MMboe in recoverable reserves. Zarat field, which lies 80 km offshore in 90 m of water, is a 1992 oil and condensate discovery in moderate-permeability fractured limestone.
According to PA Resources, Zarat field is geologically similar to nearby Didon field and to other producing fields such as Ashtart and Hasdrubal in Libya. Didon, in 70 m of water 70 km offshore, is a 1976 discovery that began producing in 1998. As of 2013, cumulative production was 31 MMboe (OGJ Online June 3, 2013).
The field extends across two license tracts, including Zarat license to the south and the Joint Oil block to the north.
PA Resources Tunisia will serve as operator, with ETAP having the option to back-in to the southern tract for as much as 55% working interest.
The development is proposed in two phases, with Phase 1 comprising four production wells and production facilities to process and export 20,000 bo/d and 100 Mcfd of raw gas. Phase 2 comprises a further four development wells, with expanded facilities to increase capacity to 40,000 bo/d and 200 Mcfd of raw gas.
First oil is expected in 2020, according to the plan, which also makes full use of existing Gulf of Gabes infrastructure for carbon dioxide reinjection, gas export, and onshore processing with the extraction of LPG.
Pending approval by Tunisian authorities, the front-end engineering design phase is expected to begin during 2017.
