A two-well drilling program will target the Cretaceous Abu Roash-C reservoir in the fault block immediately south of the Al Jahraa SE-1X discovery in Abu Sennan concession in Egypt, according to partner Rockhopper Exploration PLC, Salisbury, UK.
Rockhopper acquired its interest in the Abu Sennan concession from Beach Petroleum (Egypt) Pty. Ltd., the Egyptian subsidiary of Beach Energy Ltd., Adelaide (OGJ Online, Aug. 16, 2016). The concession is in the Abu Gharadig basin in Egypt’s Western Desert, where SE-1X well intersected 16.4 m of net pay. Rockhopper along with operator Kuwait Energy PLC spudded the Al Jahraa SE-2X on Apr. 25 and expects to complete drilling and evaluation in 40 days. The company estimates an addition of 20 million bbl of oil in place if the well proves successful. The company plans to complete the well as an oil producer.
Following successful completion, the rig will move to the Al Jahraa-9 location to test the Abu Roash-C at a deeper location than the current deepest well, Al Jahraa-4. The company aims to demonstrate connection between the Al Jahraa and Al Jahraa South East fields through the oil leg.
Since 2000, the Western Desert has emerged as the key oil producing region where most of Kuwait Energy’s oil fields are located. The operator did report a 4% decline in Egyptian production for the first quarter 2017 over the end of 2016.
Kuwait Energy holds an operating interest of 50% in Abu Sennen, Dover Petroleum has 28%, and Rockhopper holds 22%.
