Eni SPA reported that the Laarich East-1 well in Tunisia’s Makhrouga-Laarich-Debbech (MLD) license encountered hydrocarbons in sandstone layers of Silurian and Ordovician age after reaching a final depth of 4,111 m.
Production tests revealed a delivery capacity of 2,000 b/d of oil, confirming the upside potential of the concession identified in the recent 3D geophysical survey carried out on the permit.
Drilling on Laarich East-1, about 5 km from the concession’s oil treatment center, began in June. The well is already connected to production. Further exploration activity in Tunisia continues with the drilling of additional prospects identified through 3D seismic.
Laarich East-1 is part of Eni’s nearfield strategy of conducting exploration activity in proximity of existing infrastructure with available spare capacity.
Eni and Tunisian state-owned Tunisian Co. of Petroleum Activities (ETAP) each holds 50% interest in the MLD license, which lies in the Sahara desert, 700 km south of Tunis.
Eni’s Tunisian exploration and production activity dates back to the 1960s, when the giant El Borma oil field, still operating today, was discovered. The firm’s equity production in the country currently is 11,000 boe/d.
