Tanzanite appraisal well producing in Egypt

July 7, 2005
Apache Corp. has started oil and gas production from the Tanzanite 2 appraisal well on Egypt's West Mediterranean onshore concession after tests of Cretaceous Alamein dolomite.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 7 -- Apache Corp. has started oil and gas production from the Tanzanite 2 appraisal well on Egypt's West Mediterranean onshore concession after tests of Cretaceous Alamein dolomite.

The well, drilled to 9,075 ft, flowed 2,846 b/d of oil and 640 Mcfd of gas through a 1-in. choke with 205 psi of flowing wellhead pressure during tests of the top 12 ft of the formation. Apache also logged 22 ft of net pay in the overlying Dahab formation.

The company connected Tanzanite 2 to production facilities in North Alamein field 1.6 miles to the southeast. The well is producing 2,782 b/d of oil and 640 Mcfd of gas. North Alamein, which Apache discovered in 1998, produces from the Alamein and Dahab formations.

Apache drilled the Tanzanite 1X discovery well in April (OGJ, Apr. 11, 2005, p. 8). The well is producing 1,050 b/d of oil and 2 MMcfd of gas through a 28/64-in. choke from Lower Cretaceous AEB 3A pay.

Apache plans to spud Tanzanite-3 in mid-August to accelerate AEB production updip to the Tanzanite 1X.

Apache holds a 65% contractor interest in the West Mediterranean concession, and RWE DEA AG, Hamburg, holds 35% interest.