Algeria
Sonatrach tested a gas discovery in the Reggane basin in the west central part of the country.
Azse-1 flowed at a rate of 17,083 cu m of gas per hour (14.5 MMcfd) at 1,900 psi stabilized wellhead pressure.
The positive results registered so far with several wells have confirmed the gas potential of the Reggane basin, Sonatrach said. This latest discovery is the second achieved this year in the basin following the first in May. It also represents Sonatrach's fourth hydrocarbon find (two of gas and two of oil) this year.
The center of the Reggane basin lies about 400 km west of In Salah, where BP and Sonatrach are developing a gas project in the Timimoun and Ahnet basins (OGJ Online, June 9, 2000).
Brazil
Shell Brasil SA informed the Brazilian National Petroleum Agency of indications of hydrocarbons in the upper section of the 1SHEL-1-ESS well still drilling on Campos basin Block 10, Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) said.
Petrobras, Esso Brasileira de Petr
Kazakhstan
First International Oil Corp., Houston, said its 52%-held subsidiary Zhaikmunai LLP successfully re-entered the Chinarovskoye 10 well and established production at rates up to 1,000 b/d of 40° gravity oil on a 2/5-in. choke.
Zhaikmunai holds the Chinarovskoye production license, located along the northern edge of the pre-Caspian basin in western Kazakhstan near the border with Russia. The license lies west of supergiant Orenburg gas-condensate field.
The well was only partially evaluated when originally drilled in 1991. The oil is from three zones below 14,270 ft in Lower Carboniferous (Tournasian) horizon. Not including other known, productive horizons in Chinarovskoye 10, production from the well should exceed 2,500 b/d once all zones in the Tournasian are perforated.
Directors of Hurricane Hydrocarbons Ltd., Calgary, authorized development of Qyzylkiya, Aryskum, and Maibulak oil fields in the South Turgai basin (OGJ, Jan. 17, 2000, p. 73). The $140 million project cost will include pipelines and a rail loading facility.
Other projects are expected to increase Hurricane's total capital investment over the next 5 years in its upstream business in Kazakhstan to more than $250 million.
Morocco
The country will open its first petroleum exploration rights bidding round Oct. 30, said state agency Office National de Recherches et d'Exploitations Petrolieres (Onarep). The round will cover the offshore sector between Rabat and Safi and will close Apr. 30, 2001.
Morocco held meetings earlier this year describing how the country has significantly reduced its tax burden on foreign investors, said Amina Benkhadra, Onarep's director-general (OGJ Online, June 23, 2000).
The round will cover 8 blocks; three are in less than 200 m of water, and five are in more than 200 m. Size ranges from 2,750-5,000 sq km. Technical review sessions are set for London Oct. 23 and Houston Oct. 26.
Palestine
BG International PLC and Consolidated Contractors Co. (CCC) made a deepwater dry gas discovery in the Mediterranean Sea 36 km west of Gaza City.
Gaza Marine-1 in 603 m of water flowed at a rate of 37 MMcfd on a 48/64 in. choke from a 37 m interval.
The companies acquired 1,000 sq km of 3D seismic data on the concession earlier this year.
The agreement signed by the Palestinian National Authority in November 1999 committed the partners to drill 2 wells within 18 months from the contract date. BG said it will drill the second well at yearend.
Russia
Pan Asia Mining Corp., Vancouver, BC, was to pay $3 million for a 51% interest in EuroGas London's subsidiary based in Vienna.
That subsidiary holds a 50% interest in the TAKT Joint Venture, which is developing proved reserves and exploring two large blocks totaling 21,300 sq km near Lensk in the Sakha Autonomous Republic of far eastern Russia (see maps, OGJ, Aug. 8, 1994, p. 70).
TAKT also owns the right of first refusal over any future oil and gas exploration and development in the Sakha Republic and exploration, production, and development rights to all other mineral resources and timber located on all present and future TAKT acreage in the republic, excluding diamonds.
EuroGas-Austria acquired the asset from Austria's OMV AG in 1997. Sakhaneftegaz, the national oil and gas company of Sakha, holds most of the remaining interest.
Before selling its 50% stake in TAKT to EuroGas Austria, OMV performed exploration and development work on these two blocks. It postulated that the blocks could contain reserves of up to 9-18 tcf of gas and up to 370 million bbl of recoverable oil and condensate, said Pan Asia.
Trinidad & Tobago
BP discovered a gas field on the Red Mango prospect 35 miles east of Galeota Point that the company described as the largest gas strike yet in the country.
Indicated reserves at the discovery are 3 tcf of gas and 90 million bbl of condensate, the company said. It is BP's second major find in the area this year. Appraisal drilling is to start shortly.
Viet Nam
Conoco Inc. encountered oil in the Cuu Long basin with the first well drilled on 1.15-million-acre Block 15-1 off the coast near Bach Ho, Ruby, and Rang Dong fields.
The well, in 154 ft of water 120 miles southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, achieved a flow rate of 5,600 b/d. More tests on remaining zones will continue in coming weeks.
Conoco holds a 23.25% interest in Block 15-1. Its partners are Petrovietnam 50%; Korean National Oil Co. 14.25%; SK Corp., 9%; and Geopetrol, 3.5%.
New York
East Resources, Allegany, NY, and Fairman Drilling Co., DuBois, Pa., completed a third discovery in the state this year from Ordovician Black River.
The 1 State Reforestation Area 2, in Orange Township, Schuyler County, flowed in excess of 30 MMcfd of gas, natural, to the atmosphere, Fairman said. TD is 8,770 ft.
It is 7 miles northwest of the companies' 1 Whiteman, Catlin Township, Chemung County, tested in March at more than 12 MMcfd from 9,511 ft. It in turn is 7.5 miles west of the 1 Broz, Veteran Township of Chemung, with drilling completed in March at 9,303 ft and an indicated open flow of more than 15 MMcfd.
